The patient's autonomy always, always should be respected, even if it is absolutely contrary - the decision is contrary to best medical advice and what the physician wants.

She made the decision that her existence had lost its meaning. And you cannot judge that.

When your conscience says law is immoral, don't follow it.

As a medical doctor, it is my duty to evaluate the situation with as much data as I can gather and as much expertise as I have and as much experience as I have to determine whether or not the wish of the patient is medically justified.

Not one has shown an iota of fear of death. They want to end this agony.

There is nothing anyone can do anyway. The public has no power. The government knows I'm not a criminal. The parole board knows I'm not a criminal. The judge knows I'm not a criminal.

Maybe I won't stay out of prison. Who knows?

I will admit, like Socrates and Aristotle and Plato and some other philosophers, that there are instances where the death penalty would seem appropriate.

First of all, do any of you here think it's a crime to help a suffering human end his agony? Any of you think it is? Say so right now. Well, then, what are we doing here?

A transfer of money should never be involved in this profound situation. Although illness is profound, too, but medicine's a business today. It's a business.

My intent was to carry out my duty as a doctor, to end their suffering. Unfortunately, that entailed, in their cases, ending of the life.

Listen, when you take my liberty away, you've taken away more-something more precious than life. I mean, what good is a life without liberty? Huh? None.

Let's hope you feel better now.

My religion centers in different areas than what's considered conventional religion.

The patient's autonomy always, always should be respected, even if it is absolutely contrary - the decision is contrary to best medical advice and what the physician wants.

I'm for absolute autonomy of the individual, and an adult, competent woman has absolute autonomy. It's her choice.

The Supreme Court of the United States... has validated the Nazi method of execution in... concentration camps, starving them to death.

Rotten travesty. Yeah. Send me to jail for contempt. Try that. Go ahead.

Am I a criminal? The world knows I'm not a criminal. What are they trying to put me in jail for? You've lost common sense in this society because of religious fanaticism and dogma.

It's the boredom that kills you. You read until you're tired of that. You do crossword puzzles until you're tired of that. This is torture. This is mental torture.

This is not a trial. This is a lynching. There is no law.

I don't persuade to suicide.

The patient decides when it's best to go.

Among doctors in general, I think more than half support what I'm doing.

Look at the forces against me. They don't want me out. They're afraid I'll cause trouble if I get out.

I don't enjoy good food. I don't enjoy flashy cars. I don't care if I live in a dump. I don't enjoy good clothes. This is the best I've dressed in months.

What looks like enjoyment is the sneer of contempt. That's not a smile.

I will go to what they call a court. Only they call it a court.

What are friends? Some people are nice. Some people aren't. There are some I'm fairly close with... we talk.

You're basing your laws and your whole outlook on natural life on mythology. It won't work. That's why you have all these problems in the world. Name them: India, Pakistan, Ireland. Name them-all these problems. They're all religious problems.

All the big powers they've silenced me. So much for free speech and choice on this fundamental human right.

I didn't do this for other people; I did this for me. I fought for this right for me - does that sound selfish?

I gambled and I lost. I failed in securing my options for this choice for myself, but I succeeded in verifying the Dark Age is still with us.

When history looks back, it will prove what I'll die knowing.

The American people are sheep. They're comfortable, rich, working. It's like the Romans, they're happy with bread and their spectator sports. The Super Bowl means more to them than any right.

Five to six thousand people die every year waiting for organs, but nobody cares.

None of them want to delay. Understand that. None of them.

I'd find it demeaning to be cleaning toilets.

There's no doubt I expect to die in prison.

You can cite me for contempt, Your Honor. I don't care.

Anytime you interfere with a natural process, you're playing God. God determines what happens naturally. That means when a person's ill, he shouldn't go to a doctor because he's asking for interference with God's will. But of course, patients can't think that way.

Everyone is going to die.

How can you regret helping a suffering patient?

I always said all my life if I wasn't born and they gave me the question I'd say I don't want to be born.

I hate to say this, but I'll repeat it: After death, all we know that you do is stink.

I have a natural right to do whatever I want with my body... as long as it doesn't affect anybody else or any other property.

I have no regrets, none whatsoever.

I knew I was getting into one of the most illegal things in the world. It was the right thing to do.

I suppose, if helping a patient die is killing, I suppose I'm a killer.