The New Doctor Death Loses Medical License For Assisting Suicides

Dr. Lawrence Egbert lost his medical license on December 30, 2014 after it was discovered that he assisted in hundreds of suicides. The Maryland doctor suicide remains unfazed by the findings about him.

TIME reported that the Maryland Board of Physicians revoked the medical license of Egbert after his work was criticized. Before, Egbert was the leader of a group named "Final Exit Network", which allegedly gives information, guidance and companionship during the suicide process. According to Egbert, the group does not actually help people commit suicide but are present during the actual deed and rehearsals.

According to Egbert, he has witnessed several suicides, which involved putting a hood over the person's head then filling it with helium. Newsweek referred to him as "The New Doctor Death."

In 2012, Egbert told the Washington Post, "There are some people who like to suffer -- that there is a religious gain in suffering. I don't believe that."

The Baltimore Sun reported that the board found that the Maryland doctor suicide helped six patients commit suicide illegally and unethically. After reviewing his behavior, the board discovered that Egbert tried to conceal the assisted suicides, conducted through his group. After the suicide, the group removed the materials used in the act to prevent authorities from determining the cause of death.

Egbert's patients were usually between 68 and 87 years old but were not terminally ill. Reportedly, Egbert's patients died from asphyxiation. There were patients who suffered from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease while one elderly woman wanted to end her life to leave trust money for her son.

Assisted suicide is illegal in Maryland but has been legalized in Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Egbert said that he will appeal the board's decision. He said, "What we're doing should be available to any patient with an incurable, horrible disease that they've tried everything on, and it doesn't seem to work."

Ebert is no longer connected with the group but said that he stands by his actions.

Frank Kavanaugh, a board member of the Final Exit Network, said about the Maryland doctor suicide, "He has long been a pioneer for so many things. He's an important part of our history. He's been before various legal proceedings before and survived them all."

Contact the writer at ibtimesvdr@gmail.com