Kevorkian, Jack

Jack Kevorkian was an American pathologist and euthanasia advocate known for assisting terminally ill patients in ending their lives. He became a controversial figure in the 1990s for performing assisted suicides, often with a device he developed called the "Mercitron." Kevorkian believed individuals should have the right to choose a dignified death and challenged existing laws on physician-assisted dying. His actions sparked widespread ethical debates about patient autonomy, medical ethics, and the legal boundaries of end-of-life care. He was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 and served prison time, becoming a symbol of the euthanasia movement.