Kevorkian went to prison vowing to starve himself to death, and the same day the state of Michigan reversed its policy allowing the force-feeding of prisoners.

Kevorkian, who was sentenced Tuesday by Oakland County Circuit Judge Jessica Cooper to 10 to 25 years in prison, said he would begin a hunger strike immediately, reported The Oakland Press Wednesday.

State prison officials denied the change in the policy had anything to do with the 70-year-old retired pathologist.

The reversal came after state lawyers realized the previous policy requiring force-feeding of an inmate was contrary to a 1996 state court order that banned a prison from feeding a man against his will.

"I know they are going to force-feed me, but my captivity is still enslavement, and I am not going to go along with it," Kevorkian had said. Morganroth questioned the timing of the policy change.

"Isn't that assisted suicide?" he asked. "That certainly appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to our client or they would have done it before," Morganroth said.

According to a Department of Corrections directive issued Tuesday, any inmate who refuses food for 72 hours is required to sign a waiver acknowledging that the hunger strike is voluntary and that he or she understands the consequences of refusing foods or liquids.

"It confirms that they're fully aware of what they are doing and they are doing it voluntarily," said Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Matt Davis.

Kevorkian was transported Wednesday from the Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson, Mich., where he spent his first night in custody, to a maximum-security facility near Manistee, reported the Detroit Free Press.

Prison officials moved Kevorkian to "ensure the safety and security" of staff at the center.

Davis said Kevorkian will be evaluated for the next few weeks before officials decide where he will serve his sentence. The assisted suicide and euthanasia advocate will be isolated during that time to keep him from being harassed, according to Davis.

After three acquittals and one hung jury, Kevorkian was found guilty March 26 of second-degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance for his role in the televised death of Thomas Youk.

In September, Kevorkian videotaped himself injecting Youk with a lethal dose of chemicals, at Youk's request. Kevorkian then sent the tape to "60 Minutes," which aired it. Youk, 52, had suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Kevorkian says he has helped 130 people kill themselves since 1990.

According to prosecutors, Kevorkian will be eligible for parole in about six years and eight months — or after he serves at least two thirds of his minimum sentence.

Court TV's Aldina Vazao Kennedy and The Associated Press contributed to this report.