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| Kevorkian Seeks Prison Release for Poor Health |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 12/10/2002 |
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Assisted-suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian has asked a federal appeals court to release him from prison on $750,000 bond because his health has deteriorated, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Monday. A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will conduct a hearing on the bail request Monday, the newspaper said. Kevorkian's lawyers described him in court documents as a frail old man who may die while his conviction is on appeal. Kevorkian, 74, is serving a 10- to 25-year sentence for the 1998 injection death of Thomas Youk, 52, who suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease. The death was videotaped and shown on national television. Kevorkian described it as a 'mercy killing,' but a jury in Michigan convicted him of second-degree murder. Lawyers for the retired Michigan pathologist said in court filings that 'seriously high' blood pressure has placed Kevorkian in danger of a stroke. They also said he had suffered broken ribs in falls. Michigan authorities say Kevorkian, who has been locked in state prisons since April 1999, has access to high-quality medical care. They plan to oppose his request, which Michigan courts have turned down. According to a report filed with the appeals court, when asked if he would assist in suicides if bail were granted, Kevorkian said, 'I'll always help a suffering patient, and if that keeps me in jail for life, then let it happen.' Later in the same interview, Kevorkian said he 'misspoke,' The Plain Dealer reported. 'I will not do this again because I feel it would be counterproductive,' he said. 'I would stump to change the law - those are my true feelings.' Kevorkian has said he assisted in 130 suicides. Michigan banned assisted suicide in 1998 to stop Kevorkian from helping terminally ill people kill themselves. If Kevorkian is freed on bail, he will go forward with an appeal that challenges his murder conviction, court papers said. The U.S. Supreme Court in October rejected Kevorkian's appeal without comment. He said in July that he also would appeal in U.S. District Court. Kevorkian's lawyers said he won't try to flee the country to avoid serving his sentence if he loses. His lawyers did not return calls to The Plain Dealer. Kevorkian, a native of Pontiac, Mich., was transferred in August to the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, Mich., so he could be closer to his home. Lapeer is about 30 miles north of Pontiac. He had been at the Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, Mich., about 65 miles southwest of Pontiac. |
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