Profession
Kevorkian appeal denied
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 22, 2004
The U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 1 said it would not hear an appeal that Jack Kevorkian, MD, filed to have his second-degree murder conviction overturned. Dr. Kevorkian argued that he had ineffective counsel at his 1999 trial.
A Michigan jury convicted Dr. Kevorkian of second-degree murder after "60 Minutes" aired a videotape showing that the pathologist administering an injection of potassium chloride to a man who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
This is the second time that the high court has refused to hear an appeal. In 2002, it declined to hear arguments that Dr. Kevorkian's conviction should be thrown out because a constitutional right to be free from unbearable pain and suffering existed. Dr. Kevorkian is now serving a 10-to-25-year prison sentence.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/11/22/prbf1122.htm.