Michigan Ban on Aided Suicide Takes Effect to Curb Kevorkian

LANSING, Mich. — The governor signed an immediate ban on assisted suicides Thursday soon after the Legislature passed it, spurred on by the three latest deaths aided by retired pathologist Jack Kevorkian.

But an attorney for Kevorkian, 64, said “it’s just a matter of time” before the suicide-machine inventor defies the ban.

The ban originally was approved in December and was to start March 30. But Kevorkian’s foes said they feared that painfully or terminally ill people were rushing to beat that date.

Of 15 suicides that Kevorkian has assisted since 1990, seven--including three last week--have come since Gov. John Engler signed the original ban.

The state House voted 92 to 10 on Thursday to make the law effective immediately, and 90 minutes later the Senate approved it 28 to 6.

In signing the bill later in the day, Engler said: “Mr. Kevorkian has clearly crossed the line. Most of the people of Michigan are uncomfortable with the power he’s assumed for himself. No one wants to see a loved one suffer, but Jack Kevorkian doing his thing is simply too much.”

The law makes assisting in a suicide a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine. It is to remain in effect for up to 21 months while a special commission studies the issue and the Legislature acts on the panel’s recommendations.

“If Kevorkian does this again, he can be thrown in jail,” said Sen. Doug Carl. “Kevorkian seems to enjoy his role as Michigan’s resident Grim Reaper, but what he’s doing is wrong. By killing people he’s playing God.”