KEVORKIAN PLAN: `DEATH DOCTORING,' SUICIDE CENTERS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 21, 1993                   TAG: 9302210361
SECTION: HORIZON                    PAGE: F-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By SHARON COHEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
KEVORKIAN PLAN: `DEATH DOCTORING,' SUICIDE CENTERS
Imagine a new breed of doctors called obitiatrists.
Their medical mission: to lead their patients to death.
They're the basis of Dr. Jack Kevorkian's "fail-safe" model for medicide, his term for medically assisted suicide.
In the February 1992 American Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, Kevorkian outlined his plan in which doctors would be schooled and trained in a new speciality called obitiatry, or death doctoring, and work in geographically zoned suicide-helping centers.
Patients seeking to die would have their doctors make written requests to a group of obitiatrists, who would determine whether medicide is justified.
The process would include meetings with the patient and family, a physical exam, review of hospital records and other consultations.
Five obitiatrists would work in each zone. Three would decide whether the assisted suicide is justified, two to carry it out. There would be no charge.
A compassionate plan? Or a scary scheme? Opinions differ.
In the journal, 13 psychiatrists commented on Kevorkian's proposal.
The most positive said it was thought-provoking, thorough and courageous - though not likely to sway many minds.
"Medicide can and should offer those of us who desire the choice, the right to end our lives with dignity," wrote Dr. John Ravin, of Torrance, Calif. "It would give us control over our `last chapter.' But will the rest of our fellow Americans allow us to legally exercise that choice? The answer I believe is `No!' "
Others said Kevorkian's plan is dangerous, too extreme and so formal that it is reminiscent of the `final solution.'
Referring to zoned suicide centers, or "headquarters," Dr. Douglas Anderson of New York City wrote: "Why not instead call them `Suicide Sites,' or "SS" for short? [This might be particularly appropriate for sites which offer the `lethal gas' option]."
Dr. Bruce Danto, of Fullerton, Calif., questions what criteria Kevorkian would use for obitiatrists.
"Humorously I would ask, Why not plumbers? They know how to pull the plug."

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB