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John Norton: A Cautionary Tale

Hearing Room

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

In March 2012, I watched Massachusetts resident, John Norton, testify before the Joint Judiciary Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature. A person with ALS, he had been told at age 18 or 19 that he would die in three to five years from paralysis. Below find his story, at age 74, as submitted to a Canadian court via this affidavit: 

AFFIDAVIT OF JOHN NORTON IN OPPOSITION TO

ASSISTED SUICIDE AND EUTHANASIA

THE UNDERSIGNED, being first duly sworn on oath, STATES:

1. I live in Florence Massachusetts USA. When I was eighteen years old and in my first year of college, I was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) by the University of Iowa Medical School. ALS is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. I was told that I would get progressively worse (be paralyzed) and die in three to five years.

2. I was a very physical person. The diagnosis was devastating to me. I had played football in high school and was extremely active riding bicycles. I also performed heavy labor including road construction and farm work. I prided myself for my physical strength, especially in my hands.

3. The ALS diagnosis was confirmed by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. I was eighteen or nineteen years old at the time. By then, I had twitching in both hands, which were also getting weaker. At some point, I lost the ability to grip in my hands. I became depressed and was treated for my depression. If instead, I had been told that my depression was rational and that I should take an easy way out with a doctor’s prescription and support, I would have taken that opportunity.

ADA Will Trump Euthanasia Prohibition

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

Pending New York bills seek to pass a medical aid in dying act.[1] "Aid in dying" is a euphemism for active euthanasia, meaning the administration of a lethal agent to another person.[2][3]

The act also prohibits euthanasia, stating:

A health care professional or other person shall not administer the medication [lethal dose] to the patient. (Emphasis added).[4]

This prohibition is, however, unenforceable. This is due to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).

Assisting Persons Can Have an Agenda

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

Morant

Persons assisting a suicide or euthanasia can have an agenda. Consider Tammy Sawyer, trustee for Thomas Middleton in Oregon. Two days after his death by legal assisted suicide, she sold his home and deposited the proceeds into bank accounts for her own benefit.[1] Consider also Graham Morant, convicted of counseling his wife to kill herself in Australia, to get the life insurance.[2] The Court found:

[Y]ou counselled and aided your wife to kill herself because you wanted ... the 1.4 million.[3]

If New York Follows Oregon, the Proposed Act Will Apply to Young Adults with Diabetes

Dr. Toffler

The Medical Aid in Dying Act (Bills A 2694 and S 3947) applies to individuals with a terminal illness or condition expected to produce death within six months. The Act states:

“Terminal illness or condition” means an incurable and irreversible illness or condition that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment, produce death within six months. (Emphasis added).[1]

Oregon’s law has a similar criteria, as follows: