Kevorkian and the Bible Written February 2, 1994 Editor, Detroit Free Press: In Hugh McDiarmid's column of February 1 ("Kevorkian, Fieger preach their gospel"), RuthAnn Pettibone reportedly demanded scriptural justification for assisted suicide.  Dr. Jack Kevorkian declined, saying "It isn't a matter of scripture, ma'am.  It's a matter of secular rights." But let me suggest some verses:  Jeremiah 15:18, James 5:11, and Revelation 14:13 (Revised English Bible).  "Why then is my pain unending, and my wound desperate, past all healing? . . . The Lord is merciful and compassionate. . .. Happy are the dead who henceforth die in the faith of the Lord!  Yes, says the Spirit, let them rest from their labours." You see, on many issues both sides can appeal to scripture.  God forbids murder in one book (Deuteronomy 5:17), then commands genocide in the next (Joshua 10:40).  Those who believe that the Bible simply holds "all the answers" forget that not all the answers agree.