My aim in helping the patient was not to cause death. My aim was to end suffering. It's got to be decriminalized. Jack Kevorkian More Quotes by Jack Kevorkian More Quotes From Jack Kevorkian If you don't have liberty and self-determination, you've got nothing, that's what this is what this country is built on. And this is the ultimate self-determination, when you determine how and when you're going to die when you're suffering. Jack Kevorkian determination self country You're basing your laws and your whole outlook on natural life on mythology. It won't work. That's why you have all these problems in the world. Name them: India, Pakistan, Ireland. Name them-all these problems. They're all religious problems. Jack Kevorkian religious law names The American Medical Association says the humane way is to let people starve and thirst to death. If you did that to an animal, youd be put in jail immediately ... In the face of such insanity masquerading as authority, who wouldnt be strident? Jack Kevorkian humane-way jail animal My intent was to carry out my duty as a doctor, to end their suffering. Unfortunately, that entailed, in their cases, ending of the life. Jack Kevorkian racist doctors suffering Anytime you interfere with a natural process, you're playing God. God determines what happens naturally. That means when a person's ill, he shouldn't go to a doctor because he's asking for interference with God's will. But of course, patients can't think that way. Jack Kevorkian doctors mean thinking She made the decision that her existence had lost its meaning. And you cannot judge that. Jack Kevorkian umpires decision judging I would not want to live with a tube in my neck and not be able to move a finger. I wouldn't - that to me is not life. Jack Kevorkian able want moving I hate to say this, but I'll repeat it: After death, all we know that you do is stink. Jack Kevorkian after-death stink hate I have a natural right to do whatever I want with my body as long as it doesn't affect anybody else or any other property. Jack Kevorkian body want long In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients' ease but at the same time they do harm instead by prolonging and even magnifying patients' dis-ease. Jack Kevorkian doctors ease trying I knew I was getting into one of the most illegal things in the world. It was the right thing to do. Jack Kevorkian illegal-things things-to-do world As a medical doctor, it is my duty to evaluate the situation with as much data as I can gather and as much expertise as I have and as much experience as I have to determine whether or not the wish of the patient is medically justified. Jack Kevorkian doctors data wish All the big powers... they've silenced me. So much for free speech and choice on this fundamental human right. Jack Kevorkian speech choices fundamentals Am I a criminal? The world knows I'm not a criminal. What are they trying to put me in jail for? You've lost common sense in this society because of religious fanaticism and dogma. Jack Kevorkian common-sense jail religious Well, let's take what people think is a dignified death. Christ - was that a dignified death? Do you think it's dignified to hang from wood with nails through your hands and feet bleeding, hang for three or four days slowly dying, with people jabbing spears into your side, and people jeering you? Do you think that's dignified? Not by a long shot. Had Christ died in my van with people around Him who loved Him, the way it was, it would be far more dignified. In my rusty van. Jack Kevorkian your-side hands thinking Despite the solace of hypocritical religiosity and its seductive promise of an after-life of heavenly bliss, most of us will do anything to thwart the inevitable victory of biological death. Jack Kevorkian seductive victory promise I'm trying to knock the medical profession into accepting its responsibilities, and those responsibilities include assisting their patients with death. Jack Kevorkian medical-profession responsibility trying When your conscience says law is immoral, don't follow it. Jack Kevorkian immoral law advice Five to six thousand people die every year waiting for organs, but nobody cares. Jack Kevorkian waiting people years Freedom has a price. Most people aren't willing to pay it. Jack Kevorkian willing pay people
