Jack Kevorkian's last driver's license. (Image: Hutter Auction Galleries)
A few hours from now, Hutter Auction Galleries will conclude its auction of personal items from the estate of the late Jack Kevorkian. The most controversial item in the auction, of course, is Kevorkian’s Thanatron (described below):
Often referred to in the press as the “Death Machine” that is a far cry from what this actually is! Reality is that the THANATRON (which was later called the MERCITRON, renamed by Kevorkian’s famed first attorney, the outspoken Geoffrey Fieger) is a device that was created by the Doctor so that any patient that merely had the use of only one finger, could quickly and painlessly leave their daily suffering behind. Although religious zealots disagree with individual’s right to decide when life is no longer worth living, this device was carefully crafted to insure the most painless and smooth experience, which is far better than what is used by most states in barbaric executions…something that the Doctor was staunchly against. The device was made from parts that were garnered from a hardware store and the Salvation Army, where Kevorkian shopped, as he never charged a single cent for his services.
Other items listed in the Kevorkian auction include a collection of eyeglasses, his signature black and red striped hat, his last cell phone, numerous paintings he created, and a document cache containing assorted correspondence between Kevorkian and the FDA, editors at medical journals, and letters from figures such as Harvard’s George Waid and Nobel Laureate Roger Sperry.
P.S. Noted under the picture on his driver’s license (above) is the statement: “See back for medical information, anatomical gift.” According to Hutter Auction Galleries, there are no such specific notations on the back of the license.
