Gender and Physician-Assisted Suicide: an Analysis of the Kevorkian Cases, 1990-1997

This study examined the 75 suicide cases Kevorkian acknowledged assisting between 1990-97. A significant majority of cases were women. The predominance of women contrasts with national trends in suicide mortality where men are a clear majority. The preponderance of women among Kevorkian’s cases may represent a real phenomenon. One possibility is that, in the USA, assisted suicide is particularly acceptable for women. Personal & social factors encouraging assisted suicide in women are examined.