Assisted Suicide Advocate Jack Kevorkian Dead at 83
Posted on June 3, 2011
Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian died in a Detroit area hospital following a short illness at the age of 83. He suffered from heart and kidney trouble. Dr. Kevorkian was tried three times for allowing terminally ill, suffering patients to use his assisted suicide machines to end their lives.
Two juries refused to convict him after hearing testimony from the families and one trial ended in a mistrial. Dr. Kevorkian later sent a video of himself to 60 Minutes helping a patient commit suicide. He spent eight years in jail, but was eventually released on parole with the proviso that he not assist in any more suicides.
HBO made a film about his life starring Al Pacino called You Don't Know Jack. Pacino won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Dr. Kevorkian. The AP reports: