Gregory Scott Johnson
Encyclopedia
Gregory Scott Johnson was legally executed for beating and stomping 82-year-old Ruby Hutslar to death in 1985. He set her house on fire
in an attempt to conceal his crime.
Johnson sought a reprieve
, asserting that he wanted to donate
a portion of his liver
to his ailing sister, Deborah Otis, who was suffering from non-alcoholic cirrhosis
of the liver and was in need of a transplant
. His reprieve was denied because most doctors believe that it is unethical
to harvest organs after death by lethal injection
, and because Johnson himself was not a suitable donor. Another possibility – though not in Indiana
, where all organ recipients (except kidney
recipients) are chosen by law according to their places on a waiting list, on which list Johnson's sister does not appear – would have been a living partial organ donation prior to execution. The case for delaying execution probably was not helped by the fact that Johnson was infected with Hepatitis B, and that his liver was too large to be suitable for his sister. Patients in Indiana typically receive a liver after about twenty days on the waiting list.
In a statement before his death, Johnson criticized the Parole Board
for turning down his request.
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
in an attempt to conceal his crime.
Johnson sought a reprieve
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
, asserting that he wanted to donate
Organ donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
a portion of his liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
to his ailing sister, Deborah Otis, who was suffering from non-alcoholic cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
of the liver and was in need of a transplant
Liver transplantation
Liver transplantation or hepatic transplantation is the replacement of a diseased liver with a healthy liver allograft. The most commonly used technique is orthotopic transplantation, in which the native liver is removed and replaced by the donor organ in the same anatomic location as the original...
. His reprieve was denied because most doctors believe that it is unethical
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
to harvest organs after death by lethal injection
Lethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
, and because Johnson himself was not a suitable donor. Another possibility – though not in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where all organ recipients (except kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
recipients) are chosen by law according to their places on a waiting list, on which list Johnson's sister does not appear – would have been a living partial organ donation prior to execution. The case for delaying execution probably was not helped by the fact that Johnson was infected with Hepatitis B, and that his liver was too large to be suitable for his sister. Patients in Indiana typically receive a liver after about twenty days on the waiting list.
In a statement before his death, Johnson criticized the Parole Board
Parole Board
A parole board is a panel of people who decide whether an offender should be released from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as prescribed by the sentencing judge. Parole boards are used in many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the United...
for turning down his request.