Janet Elaine Adkins,
54, Portland, Ore.

June 4, 1990

A former college instructor on disability, she decided to commit suicide the day she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Kevorkian agreed to help without ever speaking to her, only her husband. Adkins died of a lethal injection from Kevorkian's first suicide machine in his van at a campsite in Groveland Oaks County Park in rural Oakland County.

Aug. 4, 1993

Thomas Hyde,
30, Novi, Mich.

A divorced landscaper and carpenter, Hyde began talking about suicide shortly after he was diagnosed in August 1992 with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. He rescheduled his appointment with Kevorkian so he could first cash a Social Security check. Hyde died from inhaling carbon monoxide in the back of Kevorkian's van.

Martha Ruwart,
40, San Diego, Calif.

Feb. 18, 1993

A single computer prgrammer, Ruwart suffered from terminal duodenal and ovarian cancer. She had tried a number of alternative treatments, including shark's blood enemas, before asking a sister to contact Kevorkian four weeks before her death. Three sisters accompanied her to her final appointment, at the home of Kevorkian's assistant Nicol. She inhaled carbon monoxide.

Last victim

Feb. 2, 1997

Elaine Day,
79, Newhall, Calif.

A widowed retired law office employee, Day was an avid golfer, dancer and swimmer who was being increasingly disabled by ALS. She detailed her suffering in a letter to the Los Angeles Daily News and expressed support for assisted suicide. Day died of a lethal injection. Her body was found in Kevorkian's Volkswagen van parked at the Oakland County Medical Examiner's office.

July 9, 1996

A single mother of two, Badger had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and psychiatric and emotional problems. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis but an autopsy found no sign of the disease. Badger died from a lethal injection. California police believe her mother may have encouraged her to seek Kevorkian help after assisting Badger in two failed suicide attempts.

Jan. 20, 1993

Jack Miller,
53, Huron Township, Mich.

A tree trimmer, Miller was the first male to seek Kevorkian's help. He suffered from cancer and emphysema, and feared going into a coma as his mother had done. He died from inhaling carbon monoxide at a trailer home he shared with his girlfriend. Miller's ex-wife and children learned of his death from a TV news report.

Main Factors:

March 4, 1997

Many of the people who sought help dying from Dr. Jack Kevorkian had encountered problems with the medical profession. These were the most common or glaring:

Doctors who provided only cursory care -- exams, tests, prescriptions but little else, including compassion or discussion of important personal issues.

Misdiagnosis.

Poor case management -- patients bounced from specialist to specialist.

Inadequate pain management.

Overlooking or ignoring mental health issues such as depression and substance abuse.

Stereotyping of female patients as people who imagine pain or illness.

Inadequate referrals and case management for home-based medical needs.

Lack of counseling after doctors were aware that a patient had contacted Kevorkian or was thinking about it.

Lack of insurance or money for medical treatments and home-based care.