Dr. Kevorkian Arrested After Witnessing Cancer Patient’s Suicide

Dr. Jack Kevorkian was arrested Sunday after witnessing a cancer patient kill himself, in apparent defiance of a new state law against assisted suicide.

A 54-year-old man committed suicide in Kevorkian’s presence at a real estate office by breathing carbon monoxide through a mask, said Kevorkian’s attorney, Geoffrey Fieger.

Ron Mansur, who suffered from lung and bone cancer, was the 16th person to die in Kevorkian’s presence.

Kevorkian was arrested and released into his attorney’s custody, police said. He was not immediately charged.

“There’s no way they can find any jury that will convict him. It’s not a crime to be present when someone commits suicide,” Fieger said.

Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor George Ward said prosecutors were awaiting word from police before deciding whether to prosecute Kevorkian under the new law against assisted suicide.

“Dr. Kevorkian proceeds at his own risk or own peril in Wayne County,” Ward told WWJ-AM radio.

Before Sunday, Kevorkian had assisted in 15 suicides since June, 1990. The last two occurred on Feb. 18. A week later, Republican Gov. John Engler signed legislation making it a felony punishable by up to four years in prison to assist in a suicide.