Anesthesiologists asked not to help execute death sentences

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

US anesthesiologists asked not to help execute death sentences (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060703/ts_alt_afp/usjusticemedecine_060703164252) AFP
The American Society of Anesthesiologists called on its members not to attend executions of death sentences by lethal injection, even if called to do so by a court.

In a letter addressed to some 37,000 members, association president Orin Guidry recalled the American Medical Association's code of ethics, which says: "A physician, as a member of a profession dedicated to preserving life when there is hope of doing so, should not be a participant in a legally authorized execution."

[BTB]

I've been told this has been the official stance of the ASA for years, though apparently this is the first time an internal communication has been released to the public about it. Haven't been an anesthesiologist for years, though, so can't say personally if that's true. ;) I don't blame them, however, for feeling their profession's been bastardized for inclusion into this process.

I'm glad they've decided to publicize and hope this leads to additional public pressure to halt the death penalty.

[jnettie]

Interesting. I never really connected the two before, anesthesiologists and lethal injection, so I agree, publicizing this could be a good move toward ending the death penalty.

[Esq.]

Dumb question: I assume that there are law re: the administration of drugs (meaning who can and who can't). Is this true?

The reason I ask is, if there are not, then someone unqualified to administer the injection may end up doing it and really screw a person up.

[jenahdawn]

The reason I ask is, if there are not, then someone unqualified to administer the injection may end up doing it and really screw a person up.

But, at that point (just asking, not meaning to be a snot, trying to understand it myself), does it really matter what would happen to the person on the table?

[j*east]

I just heard on NPR a few weeks ago that the lethal injection drug is incredibly painful and is illegal to use to put animals to sleep. I guess if you're for the death penalty, you wouldn't care if the person suffers, but it just sickens me. The only thing about anesthesiologists is maybe they could lobby for a less painful lethal injection, like the barbituates used to put down animals. Not that that's their job. Just a thought.

[MLA]

The reason I ask is, if there are not, then someone unqualified to administer the injection may end up doing it and really screw a person up.

Yeah, but if that's the case, it would likely be considered cruel and unusual punishment and so wouldn't be constitutional. I think the anesthesiologists are trying to force the hand of the government. If there are no qualified personnel to actually carry out the death sentences, the government is going to have to look long and hard at what's cruel and unusual. I think the anesthesiologists are doing the right thing here.

[Delta]

Very interesting.

[BTB]

I just heard on NPR a few weeks ago that the lethal injection drug is incredibly painful and is illegal to use to put animals to sleep.

It is, if you use it alone. But it's not used alone on humans, ever, not even criminals sentenced to die. "Lethal injection" is a misnomer, it should be called "lethal injections" because a series of three drugs is used which, in order, induce unconsciousness (and end receptivity to pain), paralyze the muscles, and stop the heart.

If the first drug is dosed incorrectly, then the condemned may not be adequately anesthetized so as not to feel the effects of the later medications. If it is dosed correctly, they are "asleep" when those medications act in the same way a patient in surgery is "asleep".

I'm unaware of a single state which requires the injections be directly administered by a physician; only that a physician have oversight of the process.

[j*east]

If the first drug is dosed incorrectly, then the condemned may not be adequately anesthetized so as not to feel the effects of the later medications. If it is dosed correctly, they are "asleep" when those medications act in the same way a patient in surgery is "asleep".

Yeah, I think what I heard is that the first medication is paralyzing, but if the dose is incorrect the person may still feel pain but be unable to indicate that and receive a higher dose. I'm no expert, though.

I'm generally opposed to the death penalty, so that kind of freaked me out.

[Jazz]

I'm opposed to the death penalty, and find this new development quite fascinating!

Here's an interesting article in the NYT about Missouri (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/15/us/15lethal.html?hp&ex=1153022400&en=20a1d6aa97fcf890&ei=5094&partner=homepage):The State of Missouri, facing a deadline today for changing the way it executes condemned prisoners by lethal injection, told a federal judge last night that it was simply unable to meet his demand that the state hire a board-certified anesthesiologist to oversee executions.

... in the state’s filing last night, officials said they had sent letters to 298 certified anesthesiologists who reside anywhere near the state’s death chamber in Bonne Terre, and were turned down by all of them.

They did have a doctor dispensing the anesthesia drugs, but there were some irregularities (to say the least) with his procedure; he was not board certified.

[BTB]

Yeah, I think what I heard is that the first medication is paralyzing, but if the dose is incorrect the person may still feel pain but be unable to indicate that and receive a higher dose. I'm no expert, though.

Sorry, but you heard wrong or remembered wrong. The first injection used puts the patient to sleep only, no paralyzing effects.

http://www.cjlf.org/deathpenalty/TXInjection.htm

Not un-biased parent site, but the linked page contains an anesthesiologist's explanation of the three drugs used. The whole point of the three-drug regimen is that each drug has a particular role. The three steps to execution are unconsciousness, paralysis, and cardiac arrest. There is no overlap in effects. That's not political - that's just pharmacology.

[Sarah]

I applaud the anesthesiologists for their stance.