Detroit News, MI
Nov 29 2007
Kevorkian cries out against justice system
‘Dr. Death’ wants courts to stop putting criminals in jail, defends
assisted suicide
Santiago Esparza / The Detroit News
DETROIT — Jack Kevorkian on Thursday called for an end to
incarcerating criminals, reaffirmed his belief that assisted suicide
is not illegal and said the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution makes
it OK to do whatever a person wants providing another is not hurt
along the way.
Kevorkian, nicknamed Dr. Death in the media for his advocacy of
assisted suicide, was released from prison in June. He was convicted
in 1999 of second-degree murder and delivering a controlled substance
for an assisted suicide.
The retired pathologist lectured and fielded questions from about 250
Wayne State University students and faculty during a 90-minute visit
to the campus.
"I did my duty as a physician," said Kevorkian, who has claimed to
have helped more than 100 people kill themselves.
"I didn’t think it was going to blow up into that big thing (a
national controversy). I would have done it anyways."
Kevorkian, who wore his trademark light-blue sweater for one of his
first public appearances since he was paroled, attacked the criminal
justice system as being corrupt. He said judges are too afraid or
dishonest to properly enforce the law and urged outlawing
incarceration. He favors a system in which victims and offenders talk
out crimes and come up with a reasonable and peaceful solution
without jail terms.
"Where would Christianity be today if Christ got off for good
behavior?" Kevorkian jokingly asked after his lecture. About 40
people were forced to wait in a hallway because so many people showed
up for the free visit.
Kevorkian received a few hundred dollars for the lecture, said Marvin
Zalman, interim chairman of the WSU Criminal Justice Department,
which along with the WSU Criminal Justice Club and Student Council
brought him to campus.
In addition to reforms, Kevorkian said people need to push harder to
protect their rights from the government and courts. It’s his opinion
that the Ninth Amendment gives people the right to do as they please
providing it does not harm another. The amendment addresses rights
not specifically outlined in the Constitution.
For instance, snorting cocaine or smoking marijuana would be
permissible, but using foul language around someone who is chaste
would be wrong, Kevorkian said. Kevorkian drew laughs and applause
when he ridiculed Jessica Zito, a 27-year-old psychology major, when
she said she is treated as if she is irrational when mentioning how
her Christian religious beliefs impact her thinking.
"I think it is irrational," he said. "I’m an agnostic."
Zito said Kevorkian is right to encourage people to stand up for
their rights but wrong to ridicule her for her religious beliefs.
"I resent being told I am irrational because of my faith," she said.