Kevorkian Paroled, assisted suicide rejected

On June 1, 2007, Jack Kevorkian was paroled from prison where he has spent the last 8 years in jail after he killed Thomas Youk and was convicted of second-degree murder.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "We call on all members of the media to refrain from participating in any attempt by Kevorkian to rewrite history or rehabilitate his reputation. Past experience with this uncontrolled, unethical and unlicensed physician gives us reason to be suspicious of his future behavior."

During the 1990's, Kevorkian claimed to have assisted in some 130 individuals' suicides, though only 93 victims were actually identified. The majority of his victims weren't terminally ill and five of whom were found to have had no physical maladies. Kevorkian mutilated the body of Joseph Tushkowski, his second-to-last known victim, by removing his kidneys after death.

As a condition of his release, Kevorkian has promised not to assist in any more suicides. He made similar false promises prior to a string of deaths, the last of which led to his imprisonment. Instead, he claims he will spend some time trying to make assisted suicide legal where he supposedly could make between $50,000 and $100,000 for speaking appearances.

"In 1998, the people of Michigan soundly defeated a proposal to legalize assisted suicide by a margin of 71 percent to 29 percent. Assisted suicide has been rejected by 49 of 50 states. Kevorkian and his radical agenda have failed as our society recognizes that killing is not a solution to suffering," said Listing.

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