Talk:Jack Kevorkian

"Best known for" or "championing"
Kevorkian did a lot of things, but is "He is best known for publicly championing a terminal patient's right to die by physician-assisted suicide, (...)". Unfortunately, a colleague prefers the phrase "He publicly championed a terminal patient's right to die by physician-assisted suicide, (...)" as if that was the only thing he ever did. Effectively ignoring his activities as jazz musician, composer, painter and his run for Congress in 2008.

Advice needed. The Banner talk 08:38, 30 August 2019 (UTC)


 * If he did a lot of things, and you think those things are important, then why not mention them in the lead? The wording I restored certainly does not "effectively ignore" anything. The wording you want conveys exactly the same amount of information, just using more words to do so, which is inefficient. Aakkbbrr (talk) 10:28, 30 August 2019 (UTC)

He's actually best known for assisting people with their suicide which led to his conviction for murdering them. He isn't actually known for much championing in most circles. Newsnowkc (talk) 03:52, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

Add conviction to the first sentence for search results
I was searching quickly to see if this guy was convicted, and all it said in the search results was that he was a doctor that advocated for euthanasia. The murder conviction should be prominent since it's why most of us know who he is. Also, my change was incorrectly reverted when I added it because the reverter said jack was convicted of homicide, but the top paragraph uses the colloquial term murder. My sentence wasn't perfect, but he was a convicted murderer and he was convicted of breaking a law his previous case basically made. Newsnowkc (talk) 03:49, 11 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Kevorkian is first and foremost known as an advocate of euthanasia. Not as a murderer as you were claiming with your edit. The Banner  talk 08:58, 11 April 2021 (UTC)

Perhaps we should consider using Template:Infobox criminal
I've noticed some discrepancies in coverage related to this subject, particularly the unusual fact that a person who claimed to have participated in several illegal killings and was convicted of one is not described using Template:Infobox criminal. Per the templates internal standard (with my bolding), "This template is generally reserved for convicted serial killers, gangsters, mass murderers, old west outlaws, murderers, mafia members, fugitives, FBI 10 Most Wanted, serial rapists, mobsters, and other notorious criminals". As Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder, claimed to have committed other acts that were legally murder at the time, and largely gained notoriety for other legal infractions, this would seem like the appropriate infobox. Additionally, it should be noted that his murder trial and run-ins with the law are his dominant legacy (just look at today's OTD on the main page). ~ Pbritti (talk) 03:32, 26 March 2024 (UTC)
 * He was not a criminal by trade. The Banner  talk 13:32, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Several courts would disagree, considering the multiple suspensions and conviction. ~ Pbritti (talk) 14:23, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Kevorkian is first and foremost known as an advocate of euthanasia. So the infobox medical person is correct. The Banner  talk 14:26, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * As somebody who is not fond of the guy, no. I would prefer an infobox that involves more defining characteristics. Far too many people disagree with labeling him a criminal. Scorpions1325 (talk) 01:24, 28 March 2024 (UTC)