Date of Birth: May 26, 1928
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Date of Death: June 3, 2011
Biography
Jack Kevorkian, also known as “Dr. Death,” was a pathologist and euthanasia proponent who gained worldwide notoriety for his efforts to assist terminally ill patients in ending their lives. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, Kevorkian earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1952. He spent much of his early career in pathology before shifting his focus to the ethics and practice of euthanasia. Kevorkian claimed to have assisted in the deaths of more than 130 terminally ill people between 1990 and 1998. His actions ignited a nationwide debate on the legality and morality of physician-assisted suicide. Kevorkian was eventually tried and convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 after administering a lethal injection to a patient himself, an act that was broadcast on the television show “60 Minutes.” Kevorkian served eight years in prison before being released on parole in 2007. Despite his controversial career, he remained a polarizing figure and continued to advocate for the right to die until his death in 2011.
5 Interesting Facts about Jack Kevorkian
1. Jack Kevorkian’s first known assisted suicide was in 1990 when he helped Janet Adkins, a 54-year-old Alzheimer’s patient, end her life.
2. He invented a device called the “Mercitron” that allowed patients to self-administer lethal drugs.
3. Kevorkian was an accomplished painter and musician, often using his art to express his views on death and euthanasia.
4. He ran for Congress in 2008 as an independent candidate but was not elected.
5. Kevorkian’s work led to the passage of various laws both supporting and criminalizing physician-assisted suicide in different states.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jack Kevorkian
1. “Dying is not a crime.”
2. “The patient decides when it’s best to go.”
3. “My aim in helping the patient was not to cause death. My aim was to end suffering. It’s got to be decriminalized.”
4. “You don’t know what you will do until you face it.”
5. “When history looks back, it will prove what I’ll die knowing.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his notoriety, Kevorkian’s net worth was estimated to be around $100,000, primarily from book sales and speaking engagements.
Children
Jack Kevorkian did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Biography on Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/activist/jack-kevorkian
2. [PBS Article on Jack Kevorkian](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kevorkian/
3. [The New York Times Obituary](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/04/us/04kevorkian.html
4. [BBC News Profile](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-13649378
5. [Jack Kevorkian’s Artwork](https://www.artsy.net/artist/jack-kevorkian
