Doctor Death is dead -- and of natural causes.

84-year-old Jack Kevorkian died of pulmonary thrombosis, ending the life of a man who helped so many others to their desired deaths. Kevorkian attracted notoriety, and earned his morbid nickname, for his willingness to euthanize patients who wished to be released from the suffering of deadly diseases. He served eight years in prison after being convicted of second degree murder.

Kevorkian said he was involved with about 130 assisted suicides and never lent his services to anyone who was not on the verge of death. He dismissed criticism of his work as religious dogma or outdated superstition, saying opposition to assisted suicide belonged in the Dark Ages.

Do any of you here think it's a crime to help a suffering human end his agony? Kevorkian asked a press conference at a trial. Any of you think it is? Say so right now. Well, then, what are we doing here?

Medicine