Kentucky Governor's Execution Order Draws Fire

Fox News ^ | December 28, 2004

[paudio]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Hippocratic Oath (search) doctors swear to save lives, not end them. But one doctor accused of doing just that also happens to be the governor of Kentucky, and a lawmaker willing to sign execution orders on death row inmates.

"There is a distinct difference between acting as a physician for a patient and acting as a governor for the people of the commonwealth of Kentucky," Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a former family physician and U.S. congressman elected to the state's highest office last year, told FOX News.

Last month, Fletcher signed the death warrant for 51-year-old Thomas Clyde Bowling (search), who was convicted in 1990 of killing a couple outside their dry cleaning store in Lexington, Ky. Death penalty opponents, including Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union, protested the governor, arguing that the case against Bowling had flaws and that he is mentally retarded. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2002 that executing people with mental retardation is unconstitutional. Kentucky already had the prohibition on the books when the court ruled.

[paudio]

If the governor loses his license, Doctors who hold (or run for) public office should pay attention...

[drt1]

For once I would like to see these Anti-Death Penalty advocates be the victims of the monsters they propose to rehabilitate. Along the same lines, the hypocrisy of many of these same individuals who value these lives over all while advocating abortion on demand is infuriating.

[bobjam]

If signing a death warrant as governor is a violation of the Hypocratic Oath, then certainly performing an abortion on a prefectly healthy mother and child is a violation as well. In fact, euthaniasia also violates Oath.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Doctors often have to decide whether to allow somebody to die or not. I don't see a problem here.

[jalisco555]

This policy is one of the reasons I quit the AMA years ago.

[SubMareener]

"Perform no abortions" used to be in the Hypocratic Oath, but it was taken out when the doctors "moderinzed" their oath.

[harpu]

Failure to sign a death warrant (if established and judified throught the Kentucky judicial system) would be a violation of Kentucky's State Constitution - and a criminal offence.

Let's see...violate a meaningless (abortion OK) Hypocratic Oath or 'go to jail'? Duhhhhh!!

[muawiyah]

The complainant is a ghoul.

[Meldrim]

Soon to be Senator Fletcher, when Senator Bunning retires in 2010.

[kingsurfer]

I do not advocate the death penalty OR abortion.

[drt1]

"Along the same lines, the hypocrisy of many of these same individuals who value these lives over all while advocating abortion on demand is infuriating.

My post was more in reference to most Libs who do oppose the death penalty and yet support abortion on demand. In your case I do not see this same inconsistency. Your point?

[kingsurfer]

Just saying.

I agree with your point that you cannot be one and the other.

I do think it works both ways though.

[drt1]

OK :-)

[reagandemo]

Let's understand what Clyde did. He executed the couple and tried to do so to their baby. Thankfully the baby survived the gunshot. Unfortunately she is being raised by someone other than her parents. This guy is a cold blooded murderer.

[reagandemo]

It's a ploy by his lawyers. He was smart enough to do the crime. Why it is only God's place to determine if a man goes to heaven or hell we can make that his day of reckoning Clyde a little closer.