Jack Kevorkian (; May 26, 1928 – June 3, 2011) was an American
pathologist,
euthanasia activist, painter, author, composer, and instrumentalist. He is best known for publicly championing a terminal patient's
right to die via
physician-assisted suicide; he claimed to have assisted at least 130 patients to that end. He was often portrayed in the media as "Dr. Death"; however, many consider him a hero as he helped set the platform for reform. He famously said, "Dying is not a crime."