wfn.org | Pastor Questions Kevorkian's Role in Sister's Death

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)]

Reply-to: owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)
"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (306
notes).

Note 305 by UMNS on Sept. 9, 1997 at 15:41 Eastern (2194 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Ralph E. Baker                          493(10-71B){305}
          Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470            Sept. 9, 1997

Texas pastor questions suicide ruling,
Kevorkian's role in sister's death

                 by United Methodist News Service

     An Arlington, Texas, pastor questions whether his sister's
death should be ruled a suicide.
     The Rev. Robert Allen of First United Methodist Church,
released a statement on behalf of his family at a press conference
Sept. 9 at First Church.  In it he questioned the suicide ruling
in the death of Deborah Sickles, and accused Dr. Jack Kevorkian of
"callous disregard for the psychological needs of a troubled
woman."
     Sickles, who suffered from multiple sclerosis and Hepetitus
C, was found dead in a Romulus, Mich., hotel room early Sept. 6. 
     According to Allen's statement, "she had both good days and
bad days. Her struggles with her illness and the financial burden,
which accompanied it, were difficult but manageable with the
support of those who loved her."
     He said Sickles had "a history of emotional instability" that
had been made more acute by recent family problems.  He said of
Kevorkian and his followers, "in their eagerness to further their
cause and validate their past history of questionable involvement
with other deaths," they failed to "ascertain the objective facts
that might have led to more appropriate intervention."
     According to the Dallas Morning News, a Michigan-based
attorney for Kevorkian acknowledged that "his client was present
at Ms. Sickel's suicide."  The account also said, "a signed note
believed to have been written by the woman, did not refer to any
assistance from Dr. Kevorkian."
     Allen's statement declared: "We believe in the concept of
death with dignity, but we do not believe that this was the case
in Debbie's death."  He said he felt she was not competent to make
a decision to end her life.
                              #  #  #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------