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Mixing Law and Medicine

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Submitted By darnellholly
Words 3049
Pages 13
Mixing Law and Medicine:
A Lethal Combination

Abstract
“First do no harm” is the foundations that medical practices are based on, but there times in which the lines are blurred and physicians must question their ethical, legal and moral participation in procedures. Physician participation in executions of convicted criminals is explored in this paper. The history of the death penalty, including the early involvement of physicians is surveyed. The pros and cons as well of the legal and ethical grounds for medical professionals are weighed ultimately present the necessity for qualified medical professionals to carry out state sanctioned executions regardless of one’s position on the death penalty.

Outline
I. Introduction
a. Thesis- Even though physician’s participation in the implementation of court ordered executions are in direct violation of the fundamental directive of the Physician’s Code of Ethics, “First, do no harm…,” it is a necessary product of the practice to ensure a “good death” for the convicted.
II. History and Development of Capital Punishment
a. Primitive Forms
b. Physician Involvement in capital punishment progression
c. Federal Government Intervention
d. Current participation state statistics
III. Medical Code of Ethics History
IV. American Medical Association (AMA)
a. AMA stance
b. Acceptable actions
c. Unacceptable actions
V. The Physician’s Argument
a. Same motivations- different point of view
VI. Other Ethical Governing Bodies
a. Tennessee
b. Virginia
c. Ethical Bodies Statements

VII. The process of capital executions
a. Exhausting legal options
b. Movement from death row to the death chamber
c. Witnesses-observers
VIII. Medications used in lethal injections.
a. sodium thiopental
b. pancuronium bromide
c. potassium chloride
IX. Skills, knowledge, and experience involved in lethal

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