CA: Doctor says ethics stopped him from aiding execution

ap on Riverside Press Enterprise ^ | 9/27/06 | David Kravets - ap

[goldstategop]

But there is NO constitutional problem with starving an innocent woman in a coma to death. But we are damned if we allow murderers to die begging for the deaths they dished out to their victims. I thought the purpose of punishment is to make the criminal suffer for his crime? Where did we go wrong as a society worrying about the tender psyches of murderers??

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[thoughtomator]

Executions shouldn't require a doctor to do anything but pronounce the subject dead. The only choice to be made is bullet, rope, or pike.

[Alter Kaker]

I thought the purpose of punishment is to make the criminal suffer for his crime?

That may be the nature of punishment, but it isn't -- and has never been -- the purpose of punishment. Suffering itself isn't an end. Moreover, the doctor's refusal to assist in the execution has nothing to do with the merits of the death penalty in general, and everything to do with the specific ethics of the medical profession, which prevents the harming of life. Blame Hypocrates.

[Lancey Howard]

Man, they gotta bring back the good ole electric chair.

[poetknowit]

Guillotine. No drugs.
No pain. Over in .0002 of a second. Apprehension, yes.

[Lancey Howard]

I think I read here that Marie Antoinette (and others) were placed on the guillotine face up.

[KDD]

You are correct and I don't doubt that a large percentage of people who are not even bound by a Hippocratic Oath would refuse to be an agent of the State in a matter of this nature. And that is a good thing. As such, being the responsibility of the State, then effective efficiency should be the goal. Also maintaining reasonable expense. The State could execute for a lot less then it does now if not for misguided sensibilities....Pronouncing death should be a Doctor's only professional duty in this matter, IMO.

[GOPyouth]

I agree. The doctor was in the right on this one. He has sworn to do no harm.

[camle]

wonder if he would be so ethical when asked to perform an abortion?

[GAB-1955]

Perhaps he would. There are many, many, doctors who hold human life sacred. You are making a common fallacy: stereotyping a person based on perceived group characteristics.

[joe fonebone]

death by 90 story drop....no pain at all...

[camle]

i certainly HOPE he would.

[LadyPilgrim]

I doubt very seriously that he holds many lives sacred.
At the very least, the girl this man killed.

But doctors don't need to be involved in excutions any more than lawyers need to be on the battlefield.

[RoadTest]

Now if the eyes of the rest of the doctors would be opened while they're executing innocent babies - - -

43,000,000 children murdered since Row vs. Wade was shoved down our throats.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

I doubt very seriously that he holds many lives sacred. At the very least, the girl this man killed.

You have absolutely no grounds to make such an accusation.

I could doubt very seriously that you are even remotely intelligent. But, I have no grounds for that, so I won't - yet.

[Jim Noble]

Here's my MD take on this.

I'm pro death penalty. If being the executioner were assigned by lottery, I'd pull the switch, trigger or trapdoor and go home and eat dinner.

But I would not use my particular skills for this purpose. I think the use of medical staff and medical tools to carry out this function is a sign of social decay, and I want no part of it.

[Guenevere]

I wonder if this doctor has ever performed an abortion?..
..are his 'ethics' genuine.....or selective?

[Guenevere]

Is this true?...Never heard it before.

[LadyPilgrim]

Maybe so......not everyone is as intelligent as some assume,
but your personal attack on me is totally out of line.
Perhaps you should read the directions on posting to another.
Thank you very much.

Now...to the subject at hand...

The death penalty in this country has been picked and prodded and torn apart and completely done away with at times, and I for one, am tired of liberals trying to make out like the lives of depraved criminals are more important than the victims.

BTW... if I offended you, please forgive me. I was talking about the man in the article.