Medical ethics & legal executions

[Eileen_T]

From the LA Times:
U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel declared that California’s three-stage drug cocktail of a sedative, paralytic drug and heart-stopping chemical — the same protocol used in 37 of the 38 states with lethal injection — could mask, rather than eliminate, an inmate’s pain during execution.

Fogel said the state would have to modify its execution procedure or he would hold a full hearing on the process in May.

To address his concern, prison officials elected to go forward just after midnight Monday with two doctors on hand to ensure that the sedative would be sufficient to deaden the pain of the heart-stopping drug. Just before the execution, however, the two anesthesiologists balked, saying the procedures forced them into the role of executioner, in violation of their medical ethics.

Fogel then said officials could go forward later in the day with a lethal dose of the sedative alone — administered by a licensed medical professional stationed within the execution chamber rather than by the usual “unseen hand” delivering the fatal drugs from another room.

But just two hours before the new, 7:30 p.m. time for the execution, a deputy attorney general told court officials that it had been called off.

San Quentin spokesman Crittendon said the state “was not able to find any medical professionals willing to inject medication intravenously, ending the life of a human being.”

Why don’t they starve and dehydrate them as they did with Terri Schiavo. I’m sure they could find some doctors who agreed with that decision.

After all, the lawyer Felos described Terri’s death as a “calm, peaceful and gentle death”.

Failing that, Jack Kervorkian would probably do it for them, I wonder why the prison officials haven’t thought of him.

 

[kmmd]

Is it not ironic that they can’t find a doctor who will end the life of a rapist-murderer, but they have no problem with ending the lives of so many completely innocent children?

 

[BioCatholic]

kmmd:

Is it not ironic that they can’t find a doctor who will end the life of a rapist-murderer, but they have no problem with ending the lives of so many completely innocent children?

I would jump at the chance to end the life of a cold-blooded killer. Heck, if an MD OKs it, i can give the medication myself as a paramedic. it wont ruffle my conscience one bit. maybe i should call the CA attorney general, and see if they will give me orders from an MD, and id inject. the law is the law.

people want “strict constructionists” as judges? they scream for them. well, this nonsense about the medication being “too harsh” is outrageous. back in the 1780s, they hanged and shot people. this judge is “activist”, and should be removed. then a REAL constructionist can be appointed, one who will use “original intent” as it is meant. meaning, we can hang this guy out in public, or stand him in front of a firing squad.

 

[Fr_Chuck]

It is a two face sword that those that will not take the life of a killer can endorce late term abotions.

But I can not personally endorce any taking of life, abortion or death penality. Just because one group can endorce one over the other, does not mean we have to accept one or the other.
We should perhaps be glad that someone is speaking up against at least one form of taking another life.

Don’t be upset bacuase they don’t wnat one be glad they don’t at least accept one, and then fight to stop the other also.

Pro Life, no matter whose life.

 

[Lisa4Catholics]

Fr_Chuck:

It is a two face sword that those that will not take the life of a killer can endorce late term abotions.

But I can not personally endorce any taking of life, abortion or death penality. Just because one group can endorce one over the other, does not mean we have to accept one or the other.
We should perhaps be glad that someone is speaking up against at least one form of taking another life.

Don’t be upset bacuase they don’t wnat one be glad they don’t at least accept one, and then fight to stop the other also.

Pro Life, no matter whose life.

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: