Posted on 07/18/2006 4:38:16 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
American Medical Association President Dr. William G. Plested said Monday that medical professionals should not participate in executions of prisoners.
"The American Medical Association is troubled by continuous refusal of many state courts and legislatures to acknowledge the ethical obligations of physicians, which strictly prohibit physician involvement in a legally authorized execution," he said in a statement. "The AMA's policy is clear and unambiguous - requiring physicians to participate in executions violates their oath to protect lives and erodes public confidence in the medical profession.
"A physician is a member of a profession dedicated to preserving life when there is hope of doing so. The use of a physician's clinical skill and judgment for purposes other than promoting an individual's health and welfare undermines a basic ethical foundation of medicine - first, do no harm.
"The guidelines in the AMA Code of Medical Ethics address physician participation in executions involving lethal injection. The ethical opinion explicitly prohibits selecting injection sites for executions by lethal injection, starting intravenous lines, prescribing, administering, or supervising the use of lethal drugs, monitoring vital signs, on site or remotely, and declaring death.
"As the voice of American medicine, the AMA urges all physicians to remain dedicated to our ethical obligations that prohibit involvement in capital punishment."
Now, now, don't confuse them with their contradictions.
No doctor is pressed against his or her will into this macabre service.
I agree. Health professionals should not participate in executions. Prisoners should be hacked to death by amateurs with machetes.
death by 90 story drop......no doctor required, and it is absolutely painless.........
There...
superb comment!
Where were there "ethical obligations" when Terri was murdered?
Perhaps the state should hire some thug off the street corner to carry out the executions. Since the injections are on an automated sequence anyway, once initiated, it is only necessary for the sequence to be observed.
What the heck, have the executions carried out by trustee prisoners who are in prison for relatively minor violations.
The message for felons or potential felons who commit capital offenses worthy of the death penalty would be pretty powerful. The capital felons give criminals a bad name.
****"A physician is a member of a profession dedicated to preserving life when there is hope of doing so. The use of a physician's clinical skill and judgment for purposes other than promoting an individual's health and welfare undermines a basic ethical foundation of medicine - first, do no harm. ****
All of this high sounding crap goes right out the door at the local abortion mill.
Let's not forget terminating the sick, elderly, or unworthy.
Absolutely correct concerning the AMA. But remember, most doctors don't associate themselves with the AMA, most doctors don't agree with abortion, and most GYN's won't perform one. This is the reason that abortion advocates are pushing for laws to FORCE doctors to perform abortions as a matter of retaining their license. And AMA's response? Total silence.
Precisely! Where were the AMA voices, demanding that they 'do no harm' to Terri? What about abortion? Such a smarmy statement.
Firing squads would be fine.
No, but snipers should.
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