Jack Kevorkian honored by HBO film yet says it won’t spur much action on assisted suicide
By Jeff Karoub, APThursday, April 22, 2010
Kevorkian: Assisted suicide ‘discussed to death’
DETROIT — Jack Kevorkian says assisted suicide has been “discussed to death.”
The assisted suicide advocate known as “Dr. Death” said Thursday the HBO biographical movie, “You Don’t Know Jack,” is unlikely to inspire much action but he’s delighted and honored by the “superbly done” film about his crusade.
“It may stimulate a little more discussion — maybe even a little more probing discussion,” Kevorkian told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “But it won’t stimulate anybody to act, I’m sure.”
The 82-year-old from Michigan has claimed he attended more than 130 deaths before being convicted of second-degree murder in 1999. He said only the threat of returning to prison keeps him from assisting in any more suicides.
Kevorkian, who was released from prison nearly three years ago and spends much of his time writing books, said he continues to provide “moral courage” to the cause. Still, he’s not interested in merely rekindling the debate he helped spur 20 years ago.
Kevorkian began making headlines on June 4, 1990 when the body of a woman with Alzheimer’s disease was found in his van at an Oakland County park. Janet Adkins, 54, of Portland, Ore., received a lethal dose of drugs by pressing a button on a machine developed by Kevorkian.
“You’ll hear people say, ‘Well, it’s in the news again, it’s time for discussing this further.’ No it isn’t. It’s been discussed to death,” he said. “There’s nothing new to say about it. It’s a legitimate ethical medical practice as it was in ancient Rome and Greece.”
Kevorkian was planning to attend a reception and screening of “You Don’t Know Jack” Thursday evening at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The film debuts Saturday and features Al Pacino as Kevorkian.
Kevorkian had high praise for the actor and his performance.
“I think he did a superb job,” Kevorkian said.
