Medical Ethics: Dr. Jack Kevorkian
By Tony Ayala
    Before reading Tony's paper, I had no idea who Kevorkian was, or what the whole hype was around him.  I thought that Tony did a really good job about presenting it in an understanding and comprehendable way.  I personally was astonished at Kevorkian.  I thought it was ludacris what he was doing.  I understand where he was coming from, trying to help people who were alledgedly suffering.  However, I have a hard time believing him when he also assisted those who were not suffeing at all.  I personally think that jail is the place he belongs.  I agree that what he was doing was killing.  Especially in the case of Thomas Youk, where Kevorkian injected Thomas himself, which was televised on "60 Minutes."  But then another question is raised when the subject is brought up that Kevorkian, Doctor Death, had some weird obsession with death.  Is he mentally stable?  Perhaps jail isn't the right place for him.  Perhaps it is in an insane asylum where he should be detained.  When I found out that Kevorkian had aided the deaths of around one hundered thirty people, I was astonished.  It seems that he would have stopped after being to court a couple of times.  Obviously he thought that he was in the right though.  It is interesting to reflect on whether he was living an examined life or not.  Was he in the cave or out?  I think that it is all personal perspective.  He probably thought that he was living an examined life.  Kevorkian thought that he was helping those achieve their "dignity" and helping them die in peace.  I personally obviously don't agree with him.  I think that he was still in the cave.  I am not so sure that ending suffering is the right thing.  I know that it is awful to suffer, but it is also spiritually healthy.  When we suffer, Jesus is right there suffering with us.  I believe that through suffering, the one suffering is brought closer to Jesus, and also those that must witness it.  Kevorkian had no right to take that away.  I am sure that as medical technology and knowledge in prolonging life progresses, these questions will be ever more pressing and prominent.  Hopefully those who must make the decision can turn to morality, and choose what is right.
Tony's research paper.
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