Non-transparent Oregon model laws allow abuses

The Thomas Middleton case has been cited by the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare as an example of how fraud and the financial abuse of an elderly man took place in Oregon but there was no investigation of his death by assisted suicide.

Real estate broker Tami Sawyer had the terminally ill Thomas Middleton move into her home in July 2008. She was the trustee of his estate which included his residence. Middleton had been prescribed lethal drugs under Oregon’s assisted suicide law. He died from ingesting the lethal drugs, in Sawyer’s home, on 22 July 2008. Two days later Sawyer sold the property and transferred the funds from his estate into her own business accounts.
The case only came to light when Sawyer was investigated for unrelated federal fraud offences.

There has never been an investigation by Oregon authorities of Middleton’s death. It is quite possible that Tami Sawyer was the one who administered the lethal drugs or that she “encouraged” Middleton to take them. Who would know?

Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, OREGON’S PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE LAW Abused and Exploited {CASE IN POINT: TAMI SAWYER AND THOMAS MIDDLETON}