Politics
Monday October 3, 2005
Kevorkian Unrepentant, Says He Won't Kill Again, But Would have Killed Terri Schiavo
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LAPEER, Michigan, October 3, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Euthanasia campaigner Dr. Jack Kevorkian, in an interview from prison, said he would not perform euthanasia if his 10-25 year second-degree murder conviction for killing a 52-year-old man in 1998 is commuted by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm before he is eligible for parole in 2007.
Known as Dr. Death for his euthanasia of dozens of sick and disabled persons, Kevorkian demonstrated his recalcitrance describing the reason for his incarceration as a "so-called crime." When asked by MSNBC's Rita Cosby what he would say to the Michigan governor if he knew she was watching right now, he answered, "For the seriousness of my so-called crime, seven years is plenty." Kevorkian, 77, killed Thomas Youk, who had Lou Gehrig's disease, in 1998 and was convicted after a video of the killing was aired by "60 Minutes."
"But as far as the activity goes, I have said publicly and officially that I will not perform that act again when I get out," he added in the interviewfrom the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, Michigan. "What I'll do is what I should have done earlier, is pursue this from a legal standpoint by campaigning to get the laws changed."
Responding to the possibility of the governor commuting Kevorkian's sentence, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca stated, "Our office has opposed commutation of the sentence. I think his [Kevorkian's] request is fruitless. The governor has rarely commuted anyone's sentence."
Commenting on Oregon's Assisted Suicide law, which will be before the US Supreme Court Wednesday, Kevorkian said the law does not go far enough. "Some patients can never use that service, because they cannot swallow," he said, criticizing the law because it does not allow active killing by physicians there.
Cosby asked Kevorkian about Terri Schiavo's death by starvation and dehydration: "Do you think after watching it that America has sort of changed its mood toward what you did?" Kevorkian responded, "If they're rational, I think they would." Adding a valid point that death by dehydration is inhumane, he continued by saying that he would have killed Terri had his husband asked him earlier. "After all that long period of time in a coma, I think she would qualify."
Kevorkian also said he could see Ben Kingsley portraying him in an upcoming silver screen version of his life, because Kingsley "carries the implication of Ghandi, which is okay with me also."
"Are you a killer" Cosby asked in her concluding questions. "I suppose, if helping a patient die is killing, I suppose I'm a killer," he responded. Asked if he had any regrets, was it all worth going to jail for, he responded, "I do a little."
Link to the MSNBC video at:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9532036/
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Kevorkian Appeal Denied
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/nov/04110209.html
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