November 30, 2015

"Kevorkian's ghoulish reputation is belied by the videotaped consultations in the archive."

"They show Kevorkian turning down many people seeking assistance and only signed on after he spoke to them and their family members and was assured of their terminal state. That can be seen in interviews with Poenisch's mother, Merian Fredericks, and an unidentified woman suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments. The 1994 interview shows the woman from the neck down, in a wheelchair, with her legs amputated and one eye removed. She says that Kevorkian had 'counseled me a couple years ago' and suggested that she should keep trying other remedies. Now, she tells him, 'I am really full of despair because the pain can't be controlled. And I'd really like an out.'"

From "Kevorkian archive opens as physician-assisted deaths rise."

Nothing in the article about the privacy interests of the patients. I'm amazed that these videos are available — at Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan, donated by Ava Janus, Kevorkian's niece and sole heir.

12 comments:

TreeJoe said...

Why are you amazed? It's advocacy.

jg said...

Extreme pro-"life" is our Jihad, but it's on the way out. Another 15 years and in most states everyone who wants will be legally employing the final solution to their own non-terminal chronic pain problems.

Stephen Taylor said...

Someday we'll have statues dedicated to this man, a true prophet without honor in his own land.

Mr Wibble said...



Extreme pro-"life" is our Jihad, but it's on the way out. Another 15 years and in most states everyone who wants will be legally employing the final solution to their own non-terminal chronic pain problems.


In another 15 years people will be pressured to end their lives "for the good of society". You don't want to be a burden to the rest of us, do you?

Anonymous said...

People's lives are their own to live or take, despite those who don't understand pain & despair. Let's have some compassion for something we know (usually) nothing of. It's really not an ideological issue, but an evolved taboo that some are more inclined to be tolerant in their consideration. There are many on the Right who understand but say nothing for fear of being ostracized. I've seen people suffer willingly towards their life's end & others who wished they had some assistance to move on, since the body's instinct for survival no matter the quality of life is overwhelming. There are no quick answers.

traditionalguy said...

The New World Order sinks its fangs in deep. And again the trick is a variation of how good it is to kill life in order to preserve better life.

Malthus is back and he is angry. All little people who exhale CO2 beware.

Big Mike said...

Nothing in the article about the privacy interests of the patients. I'm amazed that these videos are available — at Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan, donated by Ava Janus, Kevorkian's niece and sole heir.

The videos presumably predate HIPAA, which was passed in 1996

n.n said...

We need a separation of medical and abortion services. The combination and conflation of pro-life and final solutions has served to corrupt the medical profession through integration of pro-choice abortionists, clinical cannibals, and their lobbyists.

Reviving the Hippocratic Oath would be a suitable "secular" philosophy to pursue reform that engenders positive progressive and signal the conclusion of social deconstruction of human life and dignity.

clint said...

"Nothing in the article about the privacy interests of the patients."

Remember that Dr. Kevorkian wasn't just treating patients -- he was advocating for a policy change. And what he was doing was illegal. He was arrested and tried several times.

His patients made video testimonials of their desire to die and signed releases precisely for use in his legal defense after they were dead.

mikee said...

Why are you surprised that these videos are available? Kevorkian wasn't hiding his euthenasia program under a covert barrel.

Now that HIPAA is the law, only federal employees from the IRS to the DEA to DOJ to FBI to the DNC will be able to access one's electronic medical records, most likely from any terminal with ".gov" access.

Nancy Reyes said...

Cherry picking. Kavorkian wasn't a psychiatrist, but a pathologist. He was not trained in pain relief, nor could he diagnose or treat depression. Indeed, one doubts he could actually do a decent history or physical examination, since pathologists don't work with live people.

Most of those he killed were not terminally ill. A few had psychiatric problems, like the man claiming he had terminal prostate cancer who was schizophrenic. Or the wife of a psychiatrist who had abused her in the past, whose diagnosis was "fibromyalgia".

One result of his "work" was the loosening of prescribing narcotics for chronic pain. Alas, thanks to the feds, docs who do this are facing prosecution if they do so, even though the narcotic abuse and overdoses are usually from pills stolen from our patients or diverted in the black market. The end result will be more pain for our patients.

Finally, by lifting the prohibition on killing, some docs (and nurses) will do it outside any guidelines, if the Netherlands is any indication. And the phrase "women and minorities affected the most" comes to mind: Tuskegee anyone?


The Godfather said...

I wouldn't pass judgment on anyone who, because of intractable pain or disability, decided to end his or her life before the Grim Reaper did. I wouldn't even pass judgment on a physician or family member who facilitated the accomplishment of the patient's decision. But I believe it is evil to advocate suicide. A suffering patient is an easy mark for someone trying to advance an agenda.