Recuperating Kevorkian Leaves Detroit Hospital
Dr. Jack Kevorkian was released from a hospital Tuesday after recuperating from a jailhouse hunger strike to protest the Michigan law against assisted suicide that was enacted to stop him.
Kevorkian, sporting a gray beard and joking at times with reporters, said he found solace in jail knowing that “no matter how bad it gets here . . . it’s better than being in Bosnia.”
The 65-year-old retired pathologist, who has attended 20 deaths since 1990 and faces two charges of breaking Michigan’s ban on assisted suicide, refused solid food during his 17 days in the Oakland County Jail.
He consumed only limited amounts of juice, water and vitamins to protest what he says is an unconstitutional law. That law, enacted in February, makes assisting in a suicide a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine.
Kevorkian was released from jail Friday on $100 bail and taken to Sinai Hospital by his lawyer after he promised to stop helping people commit suicide until the legal issues are resolved. He said he plans to lead a petition drive to force a statewide vote on legalizing assisted suicide.
Kevorkian lost 12 pounds while in jail and weighed 116 pounds when he was released last Friday. But he said Tuesday that he was back up to 123 pounds.
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