Death row inmate wants to give liver to sister

[citydogisu]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/17/ex....ap/index.html

MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana (AP) -- An inmate condemned to die by injection next week asked the Indiana Parole Board to grant him clemency -- or at least enough time -- to donate his liver to his ailing sister.

"My sister is sick. She needs a liver," Gregory Scott Johnson said during a hearing Monday. "At this point, everything else -- including my own life -- is secondary to trying to help her if I can."

Johnson, 40, was sentenced to death for the 1985 murder of 82-year-old Ruby Hutslar. Authorities said he broke into her house, beat and stomped on her, then set a fire. His execution is scheduled for May 25.

Earl Coleman, assistant for the parole board, said Johnson's attorney must still prove such a donation is necessary.

"The board needs some definite evidence that his sister needs it, he's the only available donor and that he's compatible, things like that," Coleman said.

Attorney Michelle Kraus said she will give the board more information during the public portion of the hearing Friday. She said she cannot determine whether Johnson and his 48-year-old sister, Deborah Otis, are compatible because the state Department of Correction refuses to take a blood sample without an order.

Otis, who lives in an Anderson nursing home, does not want to speak with the media, said a woman who answered the telephone Monday at the home.

Kraus has said doctors could take a piece of Johnson's liver in a "split liver" transplant, a procedure that has a recovery time of up to two months.

Recipients' survival chances are much better if they receive a whole liver, said Dr. Joseph Tector of the Indiana University School of Medicine. Unlike some other experts, Tector has said the lethal injection of potassium chloride used in Indiana executions would not necessarily render the liver unusable after Johnson's death.

Johnson's attorneys are also seeking clemency from the governor, arguing prosecutors did not disclose evidence that another person might have been at the murder scene. Johnson said he lied when he confessed to protect an accomplice he refused to name.

Only in America would you need someone fully healthy before you put them to death. It would make more sense for the Indiana legislature to pass a law allowing for a death row inmate to donate organs and then OD the inmate on the anesthetics.

And my twisted thinking on it:
A> Don't let him. He's guilty and no part of him shall go free.
B> He wants to take over her body using his liver and continue his evil doings.

[preciousjeni]

Interesting

[AOIIBrandi]

I think they should let him. There is no reason she should die for the mistakes of her brother (if he's a match of course).

*Count me as twisted - I was thinking "give her the whole liver, he won't need it anymore - they're just going to put him to death anyway"

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by AOIIBrandi

*Count me as twisted - I was thinking "give her the whole liver, he won't need it anymore - they're just going to put him to death anyway"

I was thinking the same thing myself. I believe in organ donations - for the free and incarcerated.

[squirrely girl]

shit - at least let him do one act that will actually benefit society before we kill him.

- marissa

[honeychile]

Originally posted by AOIIBrandi
I think they should let him. There is no reason she should die for the mistakes of her brother (if he's a match of course).

*Count me as twisted - I was thinking "give her the whole liver, he won't need it anymore - they're just going to put him to death anyway"

The interesting part about liver donation is that, when it's done using a living donor, it's literally harder on the donor than on the recipient. I found that out when I was going to give part of my liver to my brother, and the doctor really discouraged me (thank heavens we weren't a match, so I didn't have to make a final decision!).

I think he should be allowed to donate. I don't know the case in its entirity, but it may be the one good thing he does with his life.

[BirthaBlue4]

Originally posted by citydogisu

And my twisted thinking on it:
A> Don't let him. He's guilty and no part of him shall go free.

That made me giggle LOL.

If it is harder on the donor, LET HIM, it just extends the torture lol

[Kevin]

Him giving up his whole liver would in effect put him to death. Why not save the money on the whole lethal injection? I think that would be a viable comprimise, were I a member of the victim's family, I'd be all for it. Sounds painful.

[James]

He could always take it out himself . . .

[_Opi_]

^lol



Why punish the sister? I'm sorry, but it's already hard enough finding donors..and regardless of whether he gives his liver or not, he will die! So why not save another life in the process?

[KSig RC]

I would guess that the issues, for the governor's end of the deal, have to do with the timing of the request and the request for clemency (which seems suspect even to me).

[KSigkid]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/25/jo....ap/index.html

The inmate was executed last night...I guess the last ditch plea didn't work after all.

[citydogisu]

hopefully they didnt just condemn his sister to death in doing so...

[AGDee]

Per the article:

The governor's office released a letter Daniels received from two transplant doctors who said the presence of a hepatitis B antibody in Johnson's system and his heavy body weight made him unsuitable as a donor.