NationStates Jolt Archive


Kevorkian's back

Zarakon
02-06-2007, 00:44
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6710643.stm

Quick warning on the link, there's a picture of a guy dying, which is about a "3" on the 1-10 scale of disturbingness, But I thought it might be worth mentioning anyway.

So, he's back. Should he have been imprisoned in the first place? Should he be out?
Ralina
02-06-2007, 01:00
I like Kavorkian. He is the only guy who can kill civilians and be a hero and a hero he is. He brought joy and happiness to so many people and he stuck to his convictions when the government declared a jihad against him.
Vetalia
02-06-2007, 01:02
Kevorkian's a pretty fucked up guy, legal or not. I mean, I don't mind euthanasia (although I'd prefer to treat the problem causing it), but he's just a creepy, weird man that seems somewhat psychologically disturbed.
Dakini
02-06-2007, 01:15
...although I do think that anyone seeking euthenasia should be required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation first to make sure it's not just depression.
Raistlins Apprentice
02-06-2007, 01:45
...although I do think that anyone seeking euthenasia should be required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation first to make sure it's not just depression.

I agree with that, but it could be hard to implement. After all, what if the person is depressed, yes, but would choose euthenasia even if he/she was not depressed? It can be hard to find that line between "just depressed" and "depressed but rationally wishing for it."
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
02-06-2007, 01:48
Kevorkian's a pretty fucked up guy, legal or not. I mean, I don't mind euthanasia (although I'd prefer to treat the problem causing it), but he's just a creepy, weird man that seems somewhat psychologically disturbed.

Yes, I agree. He deserved punishment, but he's an elderly man and should be allowed to live his last few years in free society.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
02-06-2007, 01:49
...although I do think that anyone seeking euthenasia should be required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation first to make sure it's not just depression.

I think depression becomes sufficient grounds for assisted suicide, provided it's chronic, long-term, etc. In some countries, at least. I guess the idea is to make sure it isn't a transitive condition.
OcceanDrive
02-06-2007, 01:54
Kevorkian's a pretty fucked up guy, legal or not. I mean, I don't mind euthanasia (although I'd prefer to treat the problem causing it), but he's just a creepy, weird man that seems somewhat psychologically disturbed.Wait.. weird/creepy people have to be jailed?
Kleptonis
02-06-2007, 02:00
Don't you guys get it? They released Jack Kevorkian because his health is failing.

He got the death penalty.
Sarkhaan
02-06-2007, 02:01
Kevorkian's a pretty fucked up guy, legal or not. I mean, I don't mind euthanasia (although I'd prefer to treat the problem causing it), but he's just a creepy, weird man that seems somewhat psychologically disturbed.

How do you intend on treating a terminal illness?
Compulsive Depression
02-06-2007, 02:02
How do you intend on treating a terminal illness?

Vetalia can cure even death with simply a wave of his hand...
Hynation
02-06-2007, 02:05
Vetalia can cure even death with simply a wave of his hand...

Magic's a bitch
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
02-06-2007, 02:17
How do you intend on treating a terminal illness?

Lack of dignity was the most often cited reason for choosing death while assisted suicide was on the books in Oregon. A law allowing home care, greater access to hospice care, etc. might help more people take the natural course, rather than choosing early termination. Also, some countries allow assisted suicide for psychological (not terminal or even medical) pain.
The Shivan Worldfleet
02-06-2007, 02:24
The man provided a service.

"I'll help you do it since you can't do it yourself."

Of course he shouldn't have been jailed. They wanted to die, and they'd have found some other way without him. Then what are they going to do? Arrest them for commiting suicide?
Vetalia
02-06-2007, 02:48
How do you intend on treating a terminal illness?

What I mean is that some of these people may be doing this because of mental problems. I support euthanasia, but I don't want to put people to death without reason to do so.
Hado-Kusanagi
02-06-2007, 03:11
Regardless of the issue of euthanasia, Kervorkian was a freakin nut. Just look at the chronology put here http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kevorkian/chronology.html

Photographing the eyes of people as they die? Medical experiments on death row convicts? Transfusing blood from cadavers to live patients? And thats not to mention the screwed up stunts he did when he was killing people.

Personally I think Kervorkian is extremely lucky to be out of jail.
Zavistan
02-06-2007, 03:15
I don't mind euthanasia when it is appropriate, but the problem I have with Kevorkian is his back-alley tactics. The hospital is a proper place to do that, not in his van, house, etc. He deserved the jail time, but it was an appropriate length of time.
Zarakon
02-06-2007, 03:20
Photographing the eyes of people as they die? Medical experiments on death row convicts? Transfusing blood from cadavers to live patients?

He sounds like some mad scientist from a steampunk novel...
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 03:28
Is all that nastiness what he was charged for, though? Or was it simply about euthanasia? When this whole Kevorkian thing was happening I asked if euthanasia was a country, to give you all an understanding about where my mind was at the time.
Zarakon
02-06-2007, 03:30
Or was it simply about euthanasia?

I don't know, I've never met any of them.

Okay, that's not actually true, but it makes for a good joke.
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 03:33
I don't know, I've never met any of them.

Okay, that's not actually true, but it makes for a good joke.

You shouldn't confuse the feeble minded.



Oooh! I spy something shiny!
Kick My Puppy
02-06-2007, 03:38
Meh, I don't have to worry about him killing me and if any medical institution hires him they'd be freakin nuts to begin with. He's enjoying freedom, good for him.
Zarakon
02-06-2007, 03:39
Meh, I don't have to worry about him killing me

Ummm...you do realize he wasn't randomly murdering people, don't you?
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 03:42
Meh, I don't have to worry about him killing me and if any medical institution hires him they'd be freakin nuts to begin with. He's enjoying freedom, good for him.

Aren't you worried about your puppy, though? I mean... if you'd kick her, imagine what Kevorkian would do.
Kick My Puppy
02-06-2007, 03:43
Ummm...you do realize he wasn't randomly murdering people, don't you?

I know, given that I don't have quality of life issues I think I'm pretty safe from ever needing his "assistance".

Aren't you worried about your puppy, though? I mean... if you'd kick her, imagine what Kevorkian would do.

He doesn't scare me. He looks like a breeze will topple him. I could take him. :p
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 03:43
I know, given that I don't have quality of life issues I think I'm pretty safe from ever needing his "assistance".

You plan on not aging?
Kick My Puppy
02-06-2007, 03:45
You plan on not aging?

I think I'll start living hard and die before i turn 40. Getting old sounds awful, better to die before experiencing it.
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 03:46
I think I'll start living hard and die before i turn 40. Getting old sounds awful, better to die before experiencing it.

I used to think that way and now I'm married. My wife won't let me die before I'm 40. :(
Kick My Puppy
02-06-2007, 03:56
I used to think that way and now I'm married. My wife won't let me die before I'm 40. :(

So you'll have someone to take care of you when you turn senile, i guess that's second best. ;)
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 03:57
So you'll have someone to take care of you when you turn senile, i guess that's second best. ;)

I did see that she has a Dr. K on her speed dial on her cell. I'm sure it's nothing.
Kyronea
02-06-2007, 04:01
Euthenasia is a wonderful service and should be legalized everywhere, and for pioneering it I salute Kevorkian.

On that same note he is rather mentally unbalanced and probably has several mental illnesses and as such cannot be trusted to be let free until those illnesses are cured. Curing them should be the absolute first priority of his jailers, however, so his rights are abridged for only what is absolutely necessary and not a second longer.
Zarakon
02-06-2007, 04:05
Has anyone said what mental disorders Kevorkian actually has? I get tired of people simply being referred to as "mentally imbalanced". I want a diagnosis, goddammit it!
Kyronea
02-06-2007, 04:10
Has anyone said what mental disorders Kevorkian actually has? I get tired of people simply being referred to as "mentally imbalanced". I want a diagnosis, goddammit it!

I would appreciate one as well, because I have no idea what mental illnesses he possesses. I could hazard a guess that at least one is scitzophrenia, but that, as I said, is just a guess.
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 04:12
I would appreciate one as well, because I have no idea what mental illnesses he possesses. I could hazard a guess that at least one is scitzophrenia, but that, as I said, is just a guess.

Can anybody answer my previous question? What was he sentenced for? His madness or his acts of euthanasia? Which got him the guilty verdict? I could wiki but my concentration levels are impaired and all of you are so smart.


I'm not really sure why I quoted you, Kyronea.
Zarakon
02-06-2007, 04:14
Can anybody answer my previous question? What was he sentenced for? His madness or his acts of euthanasia? Which got him the guilty verdict?

What they finally got him for was the fact that he actually DID the injection in one case.
Desperate Measures
02-06-2007, 04:15
What they finally got him for was the fact that he actually DID the injection in one case.

Ah. Well. I don't mind that I voted that he shouldn't have been jailed in the first place.
Sarkhaan
02-06-2007, 20:32
Lack of dignity was the most often cited reason for choosing death while assisted suicide was on the books in Oregon. A law allowing home care, greater access to hospice care, etc. might help more people take the natural course, rather than choosing early termination. Also, some countries allow assisted suicide for psychological (not terminal or even medical) pain.
ohh...home and hospice care! So you get to waste away in a more comfortable bed. Only problem is, you still have terminal cancer, and the morphine isn't really helping with the pain any more. "Lack of dignity" isn't that you die in a hospital. It is that you die when you can no longer function as a human being; can't feed, clean, dress or take care of basic bodily functions without partial or total help from someone else.

What I mean is that some of these people may be doing this because of mental problems. I support euthanasia, but I don't want to put people to death without reason to do so.gotcha. But, in the same vein, those people can just do it at home with a bottle of tylenol

I don't mind euthanasia when it is appropriate, but the problem I have with Kevorkian is his back-alley tactics. The hospital is a proper place to do that, not in his van, house, etc. He deserved the jail time, but it was an appropriate length of time.It's pretty hard to do anything non-back-alley untill it is legalized.