Dr Death dies

[watchman]

'Dr Death' Kevorkian dies at 83

Controversial right-to-die activist who assisted more than 100 people in ending their lives passes away at US hospital.
Jack Kevorkian, the advocate of assisted suicide who was known as "Dr Death" for having helped more than 100 people end their lives, has died at the age of 83, his lawyer announced.
Kevorkian died early on Friday morning at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he had been hospitalised for the past two weeks with kidney and heart trouble, Mayer Morganroth, an attorney and friend, said.
Kevorkian, who had previously been diagnosed with liver cancer, died from a blood clot that lodged in his heart, theDetroit Free Press reported.

I think many of you may already have seen this news but for those who have not ....

any comments ... ?

english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/06/201163181557722472.html

[Amaris]

Will give it a look later from home At work now ...well I should be working

[Amaris]

Interesting subject. I do recall reading about this man but not really anything that stayed with me. If the quotes by the people who named him Dr Death are true then he did seem to have a curious obsession with death but of course without looking it up I would be unsure as to whether they spoke of this after he was found to be assisting suicides or if it actually occurred that he preferred to be on a shift where most deaths were likely.

Having said that though euthanasia is a difficult one to judge because there are so many ways it can be abused. If a person wrote an end of life plan when they were judged of full mental capacity to make those kinds of decisions how would we know if they changed their mind but were unable for whatever reason to say so.

If a loved one was in tremendous pain and knowing they were dying and begged you to release them from it would you?

[watchman]

Yes , its a tricky one , I have no problems with the concept ,but as you say , the "devil will be in the detail" . I applaud Kervorkian's stand and that he got the debate moving ,indeed two states legislating to allow doctor assisted suicides is a hell of a result ,given that we are talking about the God plagued Americans. I must add that Im not too sure about allowing doctors this amount of latitude though but cant think of a better way. I like the "end of life plan" idea but it definitely needs integral safe guards but as to just what they may be ,i've no idea ....... whatever happens this will need a lot of thought.