I went to prison to get to the supreme court on a constitutional issue that they refused to take. Do you need any more evidence that we’re living in a corrupt country with a corrupt government? I’m angry. - Jack Kevorkian Tonight HBO delivered yet another incredible documentary in their summer series with Kevorkian, a portrait of a man who devoted his life to taking on the establishment on principle. The film uncovers some of the mystery of a highly mysterious man.  Dr. Jack Kevorkian achieved household name status in the mid-1990s for his very public fight for medical assisted suicide, an unpopular idea that ultimately led to his incarceration. This film went beyond the controversy of Dr. Death to reveal, in quite a compelling way, the more personal stories that created the character. I was surprised to learn that his life was much more robust in the arts than a medical career would lead one to believe. He composed music, painted, produced a film and wrote books. He also never married, something he says he regrets, and the idea of personal sacrifice is a big theme throughout the film.  I also enjoyed re-visting and re-thinking about the idea of euthanasia today. It’s impressive that even after ten years in prison his position remains unchanged.  His whole fight was and is based on our fundamental rights as outlined in the ninth amendment of the U.S. constitution: “the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.” He’s a pioneer. He may have used questionable tactics during the debate - publicity tours, representing himself in trial - but that’s par for the course. The fact that he willingly gave away his own rights to fight for others is extremely admirable. And it’s one more debate where people should really listen and engage. The film’s available on HBO On Demand and I highly recommend you give it a watch.
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I went to prison to get to the supreme court on a constitutional issue that they refused to take. Do you need any more evidence that we’re living in a corrupt country with a corrupt government? I’m angry. - Jack Kevorkian

Tonight HBO delivered yet another incredible documentary in their summer series with Kevorkian, a portrait of a man who devoted his life to taking on the establishment on principle. The film uncovers some of the mystery of a highly mysterious man. 

Dr. Jack Kevorkian achieved household name status in the mid-1990s for his very public fight for medical assisted suicide, an unpopular idea that ultimately led to his incarceration. This film went beyond the controversy of Dr. Death to reveal, in quite a compelling way, the more personal stories that created the character. I was surprised to learn that his life was much more robust in the arts than a medical career would lead one to believe. He composed music, painted, produced a film and wrote books. He also never married, something he says he regrets, and the idea of personal sacrifice is a big theme throughout the film. 

I also enjoyed re-visting and re-thinking about the idea of euthanasia today. It’s impressive that even after ten years in prison his position remains unchanged.  His whole fight was and is based on our fundamental rights as outlined in the ninth amendment of the U.S. constitution: “the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.”

He’s a pioneer. He may have used questionable tactics during the debate - publicity tours, representing himself in trial - but that’s par for the course. The fact that he willingly gave away his own rights to fight for others is extremely admirable. And it’s one more debate where people should really listen and engage.

The film’s available on HBO On Demand and I highly recommend you give it a watch.

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