Dr. Kervorkian runs for Congress

Dr. Kervorkian, the 79-year old doctor who helped 130 people die is running for congress in Michigan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_el_ho/kevorkian_congress

Obviously he has no chance of being elected because he believes in personal freedom. And he’s so old he probably carries his own little suicide kit around in a lunch pail just in case he needs it. But I love the fact that he’s running. This should make the race interesting.

My hope is that he gets elected, serves for a few years then runs for president when he’s in his late eighties. That’s the sort of race that makes the choice of vice president extra interesting. All he’d need to do is name Oprah as his vice presidential running mate, whether she agrees or not, and promise to whack himself after a week in office. He’d win in a landslide.

I wonder if Dr. Kervorkian has trouble entertaining guests at home. I can imagine this scene playing itself out a lot:

Dr. Kervorkian: “Carl, you look tired. Can I get you a beverage?”

Carl: “NO! Nothing! I’m good!”

Comments

[Eize]

I'm curious. Does the good doctor attend funerals? I can just imagine a family member standing up and saying, "And here's the man who made all this possible!"

[Bridget Jones]

Scott,
I love you.
Bridget.

[Cal]

I once read a paper about one of Kevorkian's procedures. After the "process" had taken place, he wrote something similar to this (not exactly, as I don't have the quote memorized):

"and as she smiled, her eyes slowly closed. A ray of light then burst through the kitchen window..."

I had no choice but to reread that sentence a couple of times to make sure I hadn't misread it ...and then I shuddered. "Twisted," I called it.

[patti]

Patti says:
TO Rita Mae... "Yes,some are" ..but not just a teeny weeny.. itsy bitsy... bit
They are big-time names "livin' large"

[derek]

Now that is not the same as winning, but you never know.

[jmc]

Why is euthanasia a blessing to our pets who are dying slowly and/or in pain, and a crime to help a human being who is dying the same way?

I never understood that. Seems like cruelty to humans, to me.

[jmc]

Why is euthanasia a blessing to our pets who are dying slowly and/or in pain, and a crime to help a human being who is dying the same way?

I never understood that. Seems like cruelty to humans, to me.

[Amy Alkon]

Kevorkian is a hero. Where Mother Theresa fetishized suffering of desperate people and is lauded for it by the porridge-brains, Kevorkian endured great suffering to alleviate others' suffering.

[e-kitap]

Dr. Kervorkian: “Carl, you look tired. Can I get you a beverage?”

Carl: “NO! Nothing! I’m good!”

Ahahaha :D Superb

[Carinya]

My sister was one of those "assisted" to her death by Dr. Kevorkian........she was 52, and had convinced herself that she had some sort of terminal disease......in fact, she did not. Nearly 10 years has not eased the grief needlessly caused by the ignorance of someone who assumed he knew what he was doing. I thought he was still in jail........

[daniel]

Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for the Michigan secretary of state's office, said state election law only governs legislative and state offices and there is nothing that would prevent Kevorkian from running for federal office.

And this is one loophole that they would want to plug. In any case you are right that he surely won't be elected even if the law doesn't prevent him from doing so

[Trickypickle]

His views are radical. Views that are too different from what the views held by the majority tend not to win. On a side note, people keep throwing the word Freedom around like it's the best darned thing in the world. It isn't. Absolute freedom is anarchy. Absolute freedom sucks folks. What we want is a measure of freedom.

[Steve]

I support the doc in principle, but in practice, it does get a little hairy, because how do you PROVE that someone really wanted to die?

It's a regulatory and legal nightmare. Just as one example, the sitcom "Scrubs" did something about this, where a surgeon was trying to persuade a family to get a donor heart from a comatose and vegetative patient who would never recover... as it turned out the fellow had an organ donor card all along, but the family had been adamantly against letting their son die, even to save someone else.

I do believe people have a right to die if they wish, but the "how" is, at best, an incredibly complex and delicate thing to manage. Without serious regulation and oversight, it would essentially open the door for people to literally get away with murder and have a pretty good cover story.

[skitle]

I agree about the name recognition. He would probably get a lot of votes just because of that.

Voter: Hmmm.... Kervorkian. Where have I heard that name before? I should vote for him just to make sure. I bet he is the one I was planning on voting for. I can't remember the name of that other guy...

[Ann-Marie]

Dr. Death for Congress!

I'd love to put that sign on my lawn.

[Mark Robinson]

Off-topic: Dilbert's got someone called Jesus working with him. Have you thought about trying out that joke with Mohammed? Recommendation: don't! I don't think some Muslims would laugh a lot...

[andrew]

in the comic you forgot to wait 3 days for jesus to come back but funny tho

[GJC]

Scott,

I don't know why you are purposely trying to anger the Christians of the world with your latest series of "comics" - especially at this time of year.

I used to like your work, but I do believe I shall no longer patronize your Dilbert website or blog. I shall no longer purchase your merchandise and will discard any materials related to you that I have in my home.

Now, you might think this is hypocritical, but it is not. Let me explain. Not every person is required to like every other person. It would be unnatural. Now, you are probably thinking: aha, another hypocrisy - those Christians are supposed to love everyone. But, no. The concept of Christian love revolves around mutual respect and understanding. At its basest root, it means if I pass you on the street, I will not look to do you harm. It does not necessarily mean I should want to strike up a lifelong, familial type of relationship with you.

You have offended me, and I forgive you, but I do not believe that you will ever change your point of view and I am not required to constantly subject myself to it. That would be foolish.

So, I bid you a fond farewell and I will pray for your conversion. I sincerely hope that some day you will see the light and realize there is a higher power - that you are not the supreme being.

It has been fun. Goodbye.

[wernman]

Sanctity of life over personal freedom.

[Cobus]

Hi Scott,

This has nothing to do with your current post, but I guess you've heard about the women who sat on a toilet for 2 years!

(see http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2287139,00.html)

Care to comment/post?

[quantum_flux]

Want to drink some Absolute Kavorkian, Carl? It's 199 proof and it goes down smooth because it's taken intravaniously and thus bypassing the stomach and going straight to the brain! You know, so you can go out spinning like a Carl-Mo-Bobb.

[Johno]

Off topic for a moment:

I am a Christian. Now, depending on how broadly you define things, the "Hay-soos" cycle has at least[gently!] poked fun at what I believe. It is instructive to note that whilst at times I may have had a little pang of offense, perhaps 2 or 3, in the main my sense of humour has been more than up to the task of appreciating the irony in this series.

Curiously, Scott, I have felt no desire to call for death squads to bump you off. Nor have I been protesting in the streets about his misuse of sacred things. I haven't even gone onto media programs and made comments like "This is unfortunate".

Now, my opinion isn't a big deal; I'm just one guy. But I bet I'd have heard about it if the Christian Community in the USA by and large had been sufficiently upset to demand that Scott Adams be executed. So let's just say that until I hear anything that says otherwise, Christians have not reacted to this series like some muslims did to a series of cartoons a few months back.

I'm not actually sure what this proves, mind. But I'm pleased to note it. :)

[Aditya Simha]

I always thought he was famous for encouraging youth in asia, but then I found out he was talking about euthanasia. Which is of course a sin according to the holy books except when it comes to an issue of punishing blasphemy!

[kman]

Carl: No! Nothing! I'm good! Although, my wife was complaining she was dying of thirst on the car ride here. Ask her!

[D. Mented]

Years ago, when Kevorkian was in the news for helping someone die, a coworker commented 'Why do they need a doctor if they want to die - why don't they just get a rope?' I answered 'Maybe they want to die because they can't even get out of bed, forget about the rope'
He admitted I had a point.
I'm not sure what I would do in that situation, but I'm absolutely sure the government doesn't have the right to decide for people.
Maybe a different occupation than doctor, though. There are medical technicians and the like that can give injections without a full medical degree. I'm not sure a doctor should be euthanising patients, although there definitely should be doctors at the level of determining if the disease is really terminal.
D. Mented

[anonymous]

Like here http://kyivnet.myminicity.com/

[ji donlan]

RIGHT ON MR ADAMS RIGHT ON

JIMBO (OF B. P. )

[CPB]

He could promise to eliminate the "death" tax.

[TurkeyHead]

This ties in to your "voting for the candidate with the most experience" rants. This guy has proven he knows how to help. Lets let him help America the same way he has helped so many others. It definitely has a terminal disease and is begging for death.

[Kia]

If this is truly the scene, makes you wonder if really has guests.

[Reebo Snort]

How 'bout a snack Carl? Let's see I've got ...
Sweet ‘n’ Sour Cyanide Souffle
Euthanasian Noodle Soup
Wild Mushroom Surprise
Blowfish Delights
Curare ‘n’ Curds

There to die for I tell ya!

[William]

In the latest strips, why is there a curious repetition of advice about pronouncing the name "Jesus" as "hay-soos"? Is this some kind of concession to potentially offended Christians? If so, why not say so explicitly? Is it a fact that a celebrated US cartoonist might be really bound up to such an extent by such matters?

[patti]

Patti adds:
Maybe, instead ...he can just join the new cabinet as head of the CIA or something.
Or .... maybe he could be in charge of foreign affairs.

Imagine negotiating with him face to face.
"Did you say ..... 'over your dead body?'.."

[Jeffrey G. Harper]

The thing that amazes me... there was a whole lot of hoopla about trying to get him out of jail early because he was very frail and was dying. They didn't expect him to make his parole date. Now that he's out, suddenly he's healthy enough to run for Congress.

I'm smelling a very distinct odor. Smells rather like a scam somewhere. Hmmmm.

[DharmaBum]

As I read somewhere: "Kevorkian could do a lot of good in Congress"

[burt]

If Dr. Jack helped 130 people die, that's only a good warm up if he's going to try to

match up with Bush, who in less than eight years has a death count way past a million.

http://boskolives.wordpress.com/

Posted by: jerry w. | March 13, 2008 at 07:15 AM

ummm, a million? really? the death toll for are troops is like under 4000. and i know a million other people havent died. have they?

[Andy]

Poor Carl. 'Carl' is just a good 'everyman' name. It's nothing personal!

[lulu]

I though he was a convicted felon. Do the let convicted felons run for office there? Here in Louisiana, you don't have to be convicted, just a felon.

[Robert Synnott]

I honestly don't see the problem with euthanasia. It's already legal in many places, and if people are going to kill themselves, they may as well do it efficiently, painlessly, and without leaving unpleasant messes in front of tall buildings or trains. (I recently had to wait in a station for three hours because someone had jumped on the lines. Three hours, apparently, is how long it takes to remove blood stains.)

[Adrian Rodriguez Carranza]

Hey Scott

Is this the End of 'Pronounced Hay-Soos'? I think it's hilarious, Ay Caramba is Back!

-Adryan (Pronounced Add-ree-ann) lol

[GLK]

Think we can get Blue Oyster Cult to play "Don't Fear the Reaper" at his inauguration?

[Howabominable]

I wouldn't vote for him unless I knew what his views were besides the right to kill yourself. I never vote for someone based on one issue alone. But it is interesting to think about.

[Jacob G]

I don't believe the doctor's name has two r's in it, Scott, unless you include one from "doctor." I'd be amazed, though not surprised, if people elected president someone publicly premeditating suicide. You'd have to question his mental status, even if he did run with Oprah, which is obviously a genius move.

Also, the recent strips with Jesus have been absolutely fantastic, every single one of them. Well done. I wonder how many humorless you offended....

[Jon]

Three days later and still no jokes about Spitzer? C'mon, Scott, I want to see if you can do better than Leno, Letterman, and Stewart.

[Gene]

Hey maybe he'll get elected and "help out" some of the old guard bogging down our current system.

[Joe]

Funny.. I never noticed that extra 'r' in his name... I always thought it was spelled Kevorkian, the way you always see it printed in the media... and on his office... and on his political signage.

[HALiverpool]

I saw Kevorkian interviewed on 60 minutes. He is one weird dude.

Mostly, I'm writing today to see if my comment gets posted. The last three didn't. You gotta problem with me Adams?

-HAL

[Mark Thorson]

He just served eight years for
his last assisted suicide.
That seems excessive for
something that should be
legal.

[somewhen]

Imagine if he was president not bush. Instead of "invading" iraq we'd be giving the people of iraq the freedom of "choice".

[Jon Peltier]

The NY Times called it "the story that almost parodies itself."

[David]

Kev! KEV!

[smee]

Didn't you once say that the best way to avoid being assassinated if you were President was to have an even worse Vice-President?

P.S. I've always wondered how to spell that noise I make when performing miracles. Now I know it's spelled "FZEEET."

[Josh J]

Scott, I'm disappointed. You're usually very logical, but here you throw out "personal freedom = euthanasia" equation without justifying it. Did you have an argument for it that you were trying to make, or were you just trying to get attention?

[Ken]

Maybe his campagin slogan could be " I"ll kill you without sending you to another country".

[patti]

Patti says:
I need to take a pill.
Only kidding.
Actually, I don't really need him to help me out. I always carry a rope with me.. disguised as a belt.
Many people think he has outlived his purpose.
.. I do NOT!
What if we could use him for a suicide registry. He can gather information concerning all those individuals who are in need of a SUICIDE MISSION. We then pay him for the information and find those individuals .. "just-causes" to die-for.
..*The doctor does not get arrested..
..*People can still give up/donate their lives but for good causes
..*AND? We.. have our own string of suicide bombers to help us in wars etc.

Imagine the scene:
A young healthy suicide bomber from a terrorist country comes across an older not so healthy American suicide bomber.
He looks at the situation and decides that he is too healthy and young to die. So? Maybe he will offer his services at a much later date. And by THAT time he is older and smarter and he/she won't do it at all.

** Gee, On second thought.. maybe we don't need the doctor after all..
if we could actually get people to register the donation of their lives.. right on their drivers licenses.
HMmmmmmm. In that case, here's a pill and a belt, doctor!

[rita mae]

Dr. Death? I think not.

A few of the names from the article cited:

Gary Peters
Nancy Skinner
Mike Brownfield
Julie Petrick
Dave Gorcyca
Craig Ruff

Hmmmmm. Is it just me? I know I'm a little different, but are those names just a teeny tiny little ittsy bittsy phallic? Please, someone say yes.

Rita Mae

[Rachel]

Him running for congress doesn't make sense to me, but then again neither does he.

[E]

Scott,

As someone who has watched a spouse die in the hospital, I have a very strong emotional reponse against euthanasia.

I do get that this is a more complicated issue that it appears from a cursory glance, and when we have the ability through machinery to basically keep someone "alive" in some sense, pretty much indefinitely, it muddies the water.

In a grey area, I think the family should make these decisions and make them conscientiously.

That acknowledged, I have a strong desire to kick Kevorkian's ass.

My wife had kidney problems, was on dialysis and due to related complications eventually died.

In the meantime, she was in a coma and not doing well... at the ripe old age of 22 I had this ACTUAL conversation.

Doctor: "Well, we should wait a few days, there is still a chance that she could respond and recover."
Me: "Ok."
Doctor: "After that, I would recommend that we stop the dialysis and just let her go."
Me: "I'm sorry, WHAT did you just say?"
Doctor: "Well, dialysis is a very aggressive treatment, if someone were in this condition and their kidneys failed, I would not recommend dialysis in that case."
Me: "We could have done that 3 weeks ago and killed her then. Instead we went to the mall and had a nice dinner."
Doctor: (no response)
Me: "I don't mean to be rude, but it seems like continuing a pre-existing treatment is fair game in this case. We could withold air, or water and it wouldn't be fundamentally different."
Doctor: (no response and walks away)

So, I'll be the first one to admit that my experience has colored my view here... but I've seen firsthand how this can be pushed for, in spite of personal freedom and family wishes...

I need to think about it more, but there is a slice of evil in here somewhere that is masquerading as goodness and mercy and choice.

[David N.]

He probably has a 'unique' plan for the Social Security problem.

[dork]

good joke. reminds me of those suicide booths in futurama where you can commit one for a quarter (i think) and choose ways like
1) slow and painful
2) quick and painless etc :)

[Andrew]

Hi Scott, what was your original punch-line for today’s comic? It must have been better than the one we see before us? And, did I miss Hay-Soos having lunch with Asok and team? I was looking forward to that one – I was thinking fish and bagels but the Last Supper would have made a great wallpaper!

[bbuddha]

You can believe in personal freedom and believe that it might be a slippery slope to allow someone to "help" other die. It kinda removes the personal part of that. That aside, if he really is a libertarian in other aspects then that would be great.

[Diana W]

I grew up in Michigan and by the time I left in the early 80's unemployment was epidemic and popular bumper sticker was "Last one out of the state, please turn out the lights". Once again Michigan is leading the way in the recession. I think Kevorkian is the PERFECT choice for a state full of unemployed, depressed people.

[Real Live Girl]

He's also probably one of the few guys who's not afraid to share the congressional men's bathroom with Larry Craig.

[Matt]

I bet its a close elction.... A dead heat..

[dsg]

Hi Scott,

Kevorkian and Nader 2012. "Looking out for consumers from cradle to grave." I'd vote for that party. Plus, Kevorkian will have an easy time raising funds. Just help certain contributors to move on, then produce the letter naming his campaign as the primary beneficiary.

BTW, do you really think Oprah is that popular? No one I know watches her, and my people are all members of a fairly large demographic group. Are you a closet Oprah fan?

Thanks for the post,
dsg

PS: Don't go making donations to Dr. Kevorkian, he may confuse it as a down payment for services.

[Steven]

You could push his campaign forward by giving him $5,000 for the primary as well "bundling" cash from your family, friends and fans.

Money + name recognition would make him viable. Now that is not the same as winning, but you never know.

[Carl]

Again with the "Carl" jokes!!!!! We Carls were born that way!!! Why, oh why, are we always the butt of jokes? We contribute to society like everyone else, and yet....

[jakesdad]

I see he's running as in independant which makes sense given that both major parties are openly opposed to the only plank in his platform:

the republicans consider it a sin...

the democrats consider it tax evasion...

interestingly the only valid argument I've ever heard against it (FWIW I support "choice" in this context) is that HMOs would eagerly grease the slippery slope from carefully qualifying/counseling patients to just outsourcing their oncology practices to the texas prison system ("well, Mr. Smith, you're mole may or may not be malignant but just to be safe we're referring you to a specialist in Huntsville, TX...")

[Cristin]

I find it interesting that I noticed you used "beverage" and not "drink".

[jerry w.]

If Dr. Jack helped 130 people die, that's only a good warm up if he's going to try to

match up with Bush, who in less than eight years has a death count way past a million.

http://boskolives.wordpress.com/

[Urban Koda]

Jay Leno had a good observation on this last night...

This really sets the scene for term limits...

I'd vote for him, if not for the fact that I support personal liberty, but I also think it would be quite a novel thing to do.

[Patrick Burt]

This is right out of left field...