Defense: Closing Statement

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, first of all I would like to thank you for taking your
time to hear this case presented before you. It is more than clear that Dr. Jenkins not
only lacked the intent to coerce Mr. Cole into committing suicide, but he also
logistically would not have done it! Dr. Jenkins is a medical professional doing his
job, following the laws placed upon him, and helping patients to the best of his
ability, in this case, Mr. Coles desire to die. Dr. Jenkins followed the law that allowed
him to help Mr. Cole die, but he did not push him in any way to kill himself. The
evidence presented before you not only shows that the well respected Doctor Chris
Jenkins is not guilty of any charge placede on him, but also shows how Alex Cole, Mr.
Coles selfish and deceitful son, pushed Mr. Cole to kill himself just for a monetary
value. Youve heard from Dr. Jenkins himself, it is more than clear that he would not
and could not in any capacity have broken the law in anyway. The New Mexico Death
with Dignity Act protects physician-assisted suicide, Dr. Jenkins followed this law
and at no point in time did he breach this law. Youve also heard from Dr. Kim
Sikora, an esteemed oncologist who not only fully supported Dr. Jenkinss diagnosis
and prognosis, but also affirmed the legalities behind Mr. Coles wishful death. Not
only one oncologist, but two oncologists, two professional doctors with a license to
practice medicine, two educated doctors that swore to follow their Hippocratic oath
to help any patient presented before them. These doctors both confirmed that Mr.
Cole wanted to die. Therefore Dr. Jenkins followed the law placed upon him and
helped Mr. Cole to die. The only thing that Dr. Jenkins can be found guilty of is doing
his job. It is unjust to find someone guilty of a crime they did not commit. The real
crime here focuses not fon a doctor doing his job, but on a slipshod son who just
wanted his fathers money. Youve heard from Alex Cole, he lacks empathy and
compassion in his fathers death and that would be solely because he knows he is
responsible for Mr. Coles death. Terry Davies told you how Alex was acting shady
around the time of his fathers fatal diagnosis, he also told you about how he needed
money for a project the two wanted to take up. Mr. Cole may not have wanted to die,
but it is impossible to convict Dr. Jenkins of coercing him to die, when clearly Alex
Cole pushed his father to suicide. An important question to ask yourself is what gain
does Dr. Jenkins have from forcing Mr. Cole to kill himself. The answer is obvious.
None. He would have lost his medical license, and killed a patient, loosing his
credibility as a doctor and his morality as a person. The evidence is clear, the
testimonies are clear, even the witnesses are clear. Doctor Chris Jenkins is not
guilty of coercing Mr. Cole to commit suicide. Doctor Chris Jenkins followed the law
in its entirety and in no way is guilty of such a heinous crime.