That Dr. Jack went to prison is a shame on our national history.

My dear mother had terrible kidney disease. Eventually they wanted her to do yet more dialysis. She asked, “What happens if I stop doing all dialysis?” They said she’d die in 3 days. She made her arrangements, gathered everyone, called Hospice, and died at home in great peace and dignity. She was lucky enough to have a terrible condition over which *she* had control. If she had had some grisly painful condition or some withering disease less precipitous, where would a Dr. Kevorkian be to give her the tools of dignity?

Stupidly stupidly in jail.

How could this departure decision possibly be the business of anyone else but the person, their relationship with the universe and their loved ones and a wise doctor? Anything else is tyranny.

Jack there’s a new device out there it’s called a “Helium Exit Kit” no fuss no muss no drugs at all!!

It’s the best thing since sliced bread and legal in several countries!Welcome home you are a true humanitarian!!!

Dear Dr. Kevorkian,

I think Bush/Cheney really need your help !

What the hell was Mike Wallace doing there?  The state is going to watch the Dr. like a hawk.  Do you think there’s a plan?  Mike’s no spring chicken, ya know.

Clearly, “authorities” ASSUME the right to determine FOR US just about any damn thing they please. They usually justify this interference on the basis that “we know what’s best for you” or some variation thereof.

Of course, they don’t “know best” but they have the guns and we don’t. However, retaining/taking back our Right To Die when and as we see fit is not too difficult to arrange. It just takes a little research and planning. There are several books available on the subject at the libraries and there are many societies one can approach for information.

There is nothing “authorities” can do to stop anyone from taking his or her own life but they can sure make it as difficult as possible for reasons that I conclude are based in ignorance and fear… mostly fear. In my opinion, to fear death is about as silly as to fear going to sleep.

To force someone to live in pain and with prolonged suffering is OK with these “authorities” though. They’d JAIL you if you subjected your dog or cat or cow to such abuse, but it’s quite OK for them to insist that you or your aging parent or friend just lie there in agony for weeks or months (sometimes at great expense) awaiting death.

Dr. Kevorkian is just too far ahead of his time. I think it was a foregone conclusion they’d jail him… if there’s anything “authorities” cannot tolerate it’s a scofflaw, especially one who thumbs his/her nose at “their” laws in public, and especially when, deep down, these “authorities” KNOW he’s right and they’re wrong.

So, just do like I’ve done. Research the various methods available to you, plan ahead carefully, and when the time comes, do whatever you damn well please. Take into consideration that you might be unable to move much or swallow as you near the end of your time, so don’t plan to go on a long hike into the woods in the middle of winter, strip off and wash down some pills with a good scotch (although as a plan goes, that’ll work!)

Whatever you do, just remember, it’s YOUR LIFE, not the “authorities.” If you choose to let them control your choices, well, that’s your choice. As much as humanly possible I choose to determine for myself how I live and how I will die. I set the rules for me. I’m not here to live up to the expectation of others, especially those who assume they have the right to insist I do so.