Posted by
Always To The Right on Monday, July 17, 2006 11:46:02 PM
Monday, July 17, 2006 8:47 p.m. EDT
So the AMA feels that it's a violation of "the ethical obligations of physicians" which prohibit involvment in a "legally authorized execution."
But its not an ethical violation to have physicians involve themselves in about four million abortions a year. I realize that if doctors have religious or other problems they don't have to do abortions. The AMA has no problem with doctors performing abortions [which will-I feel-end an
innocent life] but a "legally authorized execution" after trial and appeals that is a no-no for doctors.
American Medical Association President Dr. William G. Plested said
Monday that medical professionals should not participate in executions
of prisoner
"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."