Jack Kevorkian's advocacy for physician-assisted suicide

¶ … life of Jack Kevorkian. Jack Kevorkian, dubbed "Dr. Death" by the press, is a famous Michigan physician who is a champion of Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS). He claims to have personally assisted in the suicide deaths of 130 terminally ill patients, and he is an activist for legalizing euthanasia for terminally ill patients. At the age of 80, Kevorkian still speaks on the subject around the nation and works to promote the passage of euthanasia bills in states and Congress.

More Resistant to Change?

As Dr. Kevorkian's life clearly indicates, older adults are not more rigid and resistant to change. That is a myth that should be quickly dispelled. Kevorkian, born in 1928, is a champion of radical social change, something he has been working on since 1990, when he first assisted a terminally ill patient in taking their own life. He believes in PAS because it is more humane than allowing a patient with no hope of living to suffer pain and debilitation in the final days and months of their lives. He was a practicing physician in Michigan from the time of his graduation from medical school in 1952, until 1991 when the state disbarred him. Clearly, this lead to a great change in his life, which he managed seamlessly. He then began a crusade to educate people about PAS, something he has done ever since then with a passion.

In addition, between 1999 and 2007, he served over eight years in prison after his conviction in assisted suicides. Here was another great change in lifestyle and conditions, and yet, he survived to gain an early release for good behavior. While on probation, he cannot assist in any patient suicides, but he still works tirelessly for his cause, speaking at colleges and on radio shows around the nation. Dr. Kevorkian could be the poster child for the aging community, illustrating that even at age 80; he has survived great changes in his life and still strongly believes in his convictions. Another aspect of his ability to change is that he is not so engaged in his work for PAS that he blocks out other interests and opportunities in his life. He is also an accomplished musician and painter, which indicates he has broad interests and concerns, and is able to switch gears from activist to retired physician with ease.

Kevorkian Dispels Myths

Dr. Kevorkian dispels the myth that aging brings a decline in intellect and the ability to learn. Kevorkian actually first began writing about PAS in the 1980s, when he was in his sixties, indicating directly the opposite, he continued learning and changing his opinions throughout his life. He went public with his information in the 1990s, and received healthy media coverage for his cause. A reporter notes, "Kevorkian initially made national headlines on 4 June 1990, after he used a drug-dispensing device to assist in the suicide of Janet Adkins, a fifty-four-year-old Oregon woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's" (Atwood Gailey, 2003, p. 85). Michigan disbarred him from medical practice in 1991, when he was 63, forcing him to find a new avenue for his PAS machinery and mechanisms, indicating his willingness to find new ways of gaining rights for terminally ill patients. It shows his ability to learn and change, and that his intellect had no signs of slowing down. Instead, he became more active for a cause he believed in, learning how to publicize himself extremely effectively. The reporter continues, "[W]hat is most remarkable about Kevorkian's rise to media prominence is the speed with which he and PAS-related stories supplanted discourse on passive euthanasia" (Atwood Gailey, 2003, p. 88). Clearly, this was not something he had worked with in his medical practice, which traditionally does not seek advertising, or did not at the time, so he had to learn how to promote himself effectively, something he obviously began to excel at as he attracted nationwide attention and press coverage. Another writer notes, "Indeed, in 1999 Dr. Kevorkian performed an act of euthanasia for a nationwide television audience on '60 Minutes,' with the express desire of provoking debate over legalizing that practice too" (Gorsuch, 2000, p. 599). Again, this demonstrates his ability to manipulate the media, learned from excelling at it for nearly 10 years.

Another myth he dispels is that older people are not as effective as younger workers are. This is clearly not the case in Kevorkian's life, because his notoriety and "fame" came essentially after the age of 60, a time when people think older workers become less effective, which is why the retirement age is set in the 60s. The aging brochure states, "Older workers, however, are more dependable, have lower turnover rates, have fewer absences and accidents, show better judgment, and are as productive as younger workers" (Schmall and Pratt, 1996, p. 8). His most productive time in promoting his cause came in his 60s and 70s, and he is still doing it at nearly 81 years of age, illustrating that older workers and older people in general, still have plenty of capabilities to work hard for what they believe in.

Conclusion

Dr. Kevorkian may not be a hero to many people, and his practices are controversial at best. However, he is a shining example of an older American who dispels many of the long-held myths about aging. He learned new things to alter his life after his career ended, he works passionately for a cause he believes in, even at age 80, and he survived over eight years in prison and several murder trials. He works hard, and he has seen the real transformation of society from one without things we take for grated today, to a technology-driven society innovating for the future. He illustrates the very opposite of the myths that persist about aging. As you age, you do not have to get "old" and buy into the myths. You can still have a vital, amazing, and challenging life, whether you choose to work for a cause you are passionate about, care for your grandchildren, or find a new relationship. All of those things are possible as you age, if you stay positive and continue dispelling myths along the way.

Aging Awareness Timeline

Milestone in Older Adult's Life

Age at Milestone

Corresponding

Historical Events

Born

Graduates from high school

Graduates from med school

Begins writing on PAS

First PAS covered in media

Barred from practicing medicine

Conviction on murder charges

Released from prison

Appears on talk shows an in person

1980s

50s-60s

Charles Lindberg received Medal of Honor for his flight to Paris.

End of World War II

Queen Elizabeth II of England crowned

The Falklands War takes place

Nelson Mandela released from prison.

Gulf War begins

April 20, 1999 Columbine High School Massacre

Final "Harry Potter" book released.

First black American president elected, financial collapse and bailout.