It is interesting to contemplate some of the facets of a man who was such a controversial figure in American culture.? Jack Kevorkian was known at one time in the media as Dr. Death because of his involvement in assisting individuals with taking their lives?this was titled assisted suicide.? Today, Jack Kevorkian died after a two week hospitalization for pneumonia.? He is believed to have died from a blood clot but they will know more later.? He struggled with the pneumonia and kidney complications during the hospitalization from media reports.
A lot has been said about Jack Kevorkian in the media over the years.? For many years he used the media to get his message across to people around the world; he felt that people should be allowed to take their own lives.? He allegedly thought physicians should be allowed to assist them by providing the means (medicine) to accomplish that goal.? Many individuals (allegedly over 100 people) with chronic illness or disease, who were suffering, sought him out to help them end their lives.?? He was eventually convicted of murder by prosecutors and served approximately 8 years in prison; but, he was released early because of his own medical conditions.
His battle with public perceptions and the public?s moral and legal viewpoint, on his stance towards assisted suicide, opened up many conversations around the world.? If nothing else, I do believe that the media attention helped people to examine their own beliefs about the idea of assisted suicide and the concept of whether people should have end of life choices when faced with chronic illnesses or diseases.
My own personal feelings aside, I can?t help but wonder as Jack was stripped of his medical license after being in prison for assisting suicides in the past; if he could have, would he have taken his own life at the end?
I mean, Jack?s life and career appeared to revolve around death and dying.? He didn?t have access to his machine, that he invented to assist those who wanted to commit suicide, while he struggle with his illness in the hospital.? Still, he has had health problems for years?which was part of the reason he was released early from prison.
One wonders, why didn?t he commit suicide himself during that time.? Could it be that he realized the value in living even while chronically ill?? Did he ever regret helping others to commit suicide?? Publicly he remained defiant?but, when released from prison he agreed to no longer assist people with their suicides.? Still, if he would have taken his own life?there is nothing that the legal system could have done to him after his death.?? He chose not to do that?and I am glad.
It is said that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary situation.? There are reports of people who have attempted suicide and somehow survived who report being glad that their attempt failed. Suicide leaves many victims?the survivors or loved ones of people who are successful at taking their own lives struggle with many issues.
Suicide prevention is important because people are in distress when they consider taking such an extreme action.? Those stresses are intense?but often they are fleeting situations and if a person has an intervention that helps preserve their life than can go on and live a rewarding life (even if it is hindered by disease or illness).? For those of us who have moral convictions about the idea of suicide, it is with sadness to hear of someone losing their life to suicide whether it is assisted or not. The subject is emotionally charged for most people?those who believe in the right to take their own life and those who believe it is wrong to do so.
Having lost a loved one myself, this week, after a long battle against a chronic disease; I can only imagine how much more complex the loss would have been, had that person chosen to take his own life.? He suffered greatly, and yet he struggled to live; was he ever tempted to take his own life?? I am sure there were moments when the pain became too much to bear?and yet, he fought for every moment he was allowed to have with his friends and family.
What are your thoughts on death and dying?Jack Kevorkian or assisted suicides?? Our condolences to his friends and family at their loss.
Write Where You Are
Source: http://www.roarforfreedom.com/jack-kevorkian-death-and-dying/
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