Overview

Death on Demand explores the polarizing role of Jack Kevorkian—“Dr. Death”—as the most visible leader of the right-to-die movement. From a feature on the cover of Time magazine to interviews on shows like 60 Minutes, Kevorkian was a high-profile figure in the right-to-die movement, capturing constant media attention as he helped more than one hundred people kill themselves. The book opens with the death of Janet Adkins in 1990—Kevorkian’s first assisted suicide—then travels back to Kevorkian’s medical school days and follows his nearly four decades as a lone activist. Death on Demand draws on Kevorkian’s interviews and published work as well as newspaper and magazine articles to describe the doctor’s publicity stunts, criminal trials, years in prison, and activities after he was paroled. Author Michael DeCesare examines Kevorkian’s actions in the context of the right-to-die movement to understand his crucial role in bringing the controversial practice of assisted suicide into the public conversation.

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9781442242135

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For those who are interested in the right-to-die movement or the controversial figure nicknamed Doctor Death, this new book is an essential read. Harvard Law Review Death on Demand captures the important change agent that was Dr. Jack Kevorkian, whose actions caused a national examination of laws surrounding dying in America. With comprehensive treatment, DeCesare has produced a well-written and well-paced exploration of Kevorkian's efforts and the ongoing debate in American society. He places Kevorkian and his efforts deftly in the context of the shifts in American policy and practice, which Kevorkian both challenged and changed. -- John Dombrink, University of California, Irvine

Death on Demand captures the important change agent that was Dr. Jack Kevorkian, whose actions caused a national examination of laws surrounding dying in America. With comprehensive treatment, DeCesare has produced a well-written and well-paced exploration of Kevorkian's efforts and the ongoing debate in American society. He places Kevorkian and his efforts deftly in the context of the shifts in American policy and practice, which Kevorkian both challenged and changed. -- John Dombrink, University of California, Irvine

Author Information

Michael DeCesare is professor and chair of the sociology department at Merrimack College. He is coeditor of New Directions in Sociology and author of A Discipline Divided.

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