Dr. Jack Kevorkian Released from Prison After Serving Eight-Year Term

Jack Kevorkian, the doctor known for aiding the distressed and ill in committing suicide, has been released from an eight year stint in prison today, according to the Associated Press.

He claimed to have helped at least 130 people commit suicide and when leaving prison still claimed that he believes people have the right to die.

Kevorkian mocked the legal system in the nineties by showing up to court in costume and burning state orders that were against him. He challenged the system to make his actions legal instead of prosecuting him. He was accused and later convicted in 1998 in a case where he injected a man, Thomas Youk, with a lethal amount of drugs. Youk was suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. The initial sentence Kevorkian was to serve was between 10 and 25 years for second degree murder but because of Kevorkian's good behavior in prison his sentence was lessened.

Kevorkian, a 79- year old retired pathologist, still stands by his frame of mind and makes it quite clear that he believes people should have the right to chose when they die. Between the years 1990 and 1998 Kevorkian estimates that he has aided in 130 suicides, all of which were not terminally ill patients.

At this time Oregon is the only state in which a dying patient with six months or less to live can ask a doctor to inject him with a lethal amount of medication. Michigan, the state where Kevorkian was convicted, is completely opposed to assisted suicides. Michigan has had an outlaw on assisted suicides since 1998.

Kevorkian will be set to be on parole for two years and is forbidden to help anyone else in the dying process. Also he must refrain from helping an already ill patient or any patient over the age of 62. However, he is allowed to speak and voice his opinion on the topic of assisted suicides, but may not show anyone how to assist someone in the process. Kevorkian will be made to meet with his parole officer on a regular basis and if any of the terms of parole are violating he will be sent back to jail.

According to the Associated Press, the 'Right to Life of Michigan 'are not so trusting of Kevorkian's promises. The group opposes any and all attempts at assisted suicide and has publicly expressed their opinion that they do not trust the doctor to never help anyone else commit suicide again.

Associated Press, "Kevorkian released from prison." MSNBC News.

URL: (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18974940/)