Australian actor and martial artist Richard Norton suffered a fatal cardiac arrest at age 75 in March 2025 after injecting unapproved peptide products prescribed by a medical practitioner, prompting Victorian Coroner David Ryan to recommend tougher regulatory restrictions on the substances.
The Bottom Line
- Coroner David Ryan found that Richard Norton’s March 2025 death was triggered by injecting the unapproved peptides CJC1295 and Ipamorelin.
- The coroner recommended that the Therapeutic Goods Administration review peptide safety risks and consider shifting them from schedule 4 prescription drugs to schedule 10.
- An independent expert engaged by the Medical Board of Australia found that the prescribing doctor’s clinical notes were sparse and inadequate.
Coroner Recommends Stricter Oversight After Actor Death
The death of Richard Norton marks what is believed to be the first confirmed fatality in Australia linked directly to unapproved peptide use, according to findings handed down by Victorian Coroner David Ryan. Norton, an experienced film industry fight choreographer and martial artist who worked alongside notable Hollywood talent throughout his career, approached medical practitioner Dr Jerzy Muchnicki in March 2025 to discuss peptide therapy for fatigue, shoulder pain, and muscle mass loss.
Coroner recommends TGA consider tougher restrictions on #peptide use after death of Australian actor Richard Norton. https://t.co/guX2dYqaAz via @ABCaustralia
During their initial consultations, Dr Muchnicki and Norton discussed the experimental nature of the treatment, potential risks, and the lack of alternative treatments approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Following baseline blood tests, Norton signed an informed consent form acknowledging risks including anaphylaxis, and was subsequently prescribed CJC1295 and Ipamorelin injections on March 19, 2025.
Dosage Deviations and Rapid Deterioration
Within a week of beginning the regimen, Norton reported feeling improved symptoms. However, on March 28, just two days before his death, Norton disclosed to a nurse at the clinic that he had been administering double the prescribed doses of CJC1295 and Ipamorelin. The clinic nurse instructed him to return to the correct dosage starting the following week, and the doctor prescribed two additional peptides to further manage pain.
Hours after that conversation, Norton injected CJC1295 and Ipamorelin, quickly experiencing a flushed feeling and unresponsiveness. He was rushed to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where he died on March 30, 2025. Coroner Ryan noted in his findings that Norton had been taking amounts of the medication in excess of the doses prescribed by his medical practitioner.
| Event Details | Recorded Fact |
|---|---|
| Subject | Richard Norton, 75 (Actor and Stuntman) |
| Date of Cardiac Arrest | March 2025 (Died March 30, 2025) |
| Substances Involved | CJC1295 and Ipamorelin (Unapproved Peptides) |
| Prescribing Practitioner | Dr Jerzy Muchnicki |
Regulatory Scrutiny and Medical Board Findings
In his findings handed down on Wednesday, Coroner Ryan recommended that the TGA review the therapeutic benefits and safety risks associated with peptides such as CJC1295 and Ipamorelin. The coroner suggested the regulator consider shifting these substances from schedule 4 prescription-only medications to schedule 10, which would restrict their use exclusively to clinical trials or experimental settings.
I am not satisfied that it is appropriate for them to be available to be prescribed by medical practitioners,
Coroner Ryan stated, pointing to acknowledged uncertainties regarding therapeutic benefits and patient safety risks. An independent expert investigated Dr Muchnicki’s records on behalf of the Medical Board of Australia, determining that there was insufficient evidence proving CJC1295 or Ipamorelin to be safe, effective, or beneficial for human use, and criticizing the practitioner’s notes as sparse and inadequate.
While the board determined that formal regulatory action against Dr Muchnicki was not warranted given his cooperation and commitment to avoid prescribing peptides without robust clinical evidence, he was ordered to undergo one-on-one training for clinical record keeping and management. Concurrently, the TGA issued fresh warnings regarding the risks of importing and utilizing unapproved peptides promoted online for anti-aging, weight loss, and muscle growth.
