We had to kill our patients

[Geebs]

The Hippocratic oath is considered to be a little old-fashioned in this day and age. The only time most doctors see it is embroidered on some objet de mauvais gout which a patient has given them as a gift.

And no, I've never killed any of my patients, not even by mistake.

[Don Carlos]

And no, I've never killed any of my patients, not even by mistake.

why do i think you are telling porkies?

[hate]

wrong THE 'Hippocratic Oath' is an option

and not a requirement

I would guess that a large majority of doctors take it. Or else wouldn't it be easy for a prison to find a doctor to administer a lethal injection? I do admit I know shit about the subject beyond what I read in a wikipedia article on lethal injection.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_today.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html

[mjrpes]

The Hippocratic oath is considered to be a little old-fashioned in this day and age. The only time most doctors see it is embroidered on some objet de mauvais gout which a patient has given them as a gift.

And no, I've never killed any of my patients, not even by mistake.

So why does it seem (according to what I read) that no doctors directly perform lethal injections on prisoners. Wouldn't it be in the best interest of a doctor and society, seeing that there is less chance of an error occuring in the injection, and thus potentially less suffering in the prisoner? And then what about the 'pull the plug' issue? Why do doctors let a patient 'suffer' through starvation (granted, if they're brain dead there isn't any suffering) instead of just getting it over with quickly? I thought the reason for this was a matter of ethics, and this stemmed back from the tenets of the Hippocratic Oath.

[mjrpes]

wrong THE 'Hippocratic Oath' is an option

and not a requirement

I would guess that a large majority of doctors take it. Or else wouldn't it be easy for a prison to find a doctor to administer a lethal injection? I do admit I know shit about the subject beyond what I read in a wikipedia article on lethal injection.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_today.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html

Thanks.

[Geebs]

The Hippocratic oath is considered to be a little old-fashioned in this day and age. The only time most doctors see it is embroidered on some objet de mauvais gout which a patient has given them as a gift.

And no, I've never killed any of my patients, not even by mistake.

So why does it seem (according to what I read) that no doctors directly perform lethal injections on prisoners. Wouldn't it be in the best interest of a doctor and society, seeing that there is less chance of an error occuring in the injection, and thus potentially less suffering in the prisoner? And then what about the 'pull the plug' issue? Why do doctors let a patient 'suffer' through starvation (granted, if they're brain dead there isn't any suffering) instead of just getting it over with quickly? I thought the reason for this was a matter of ethics, and this stemmed back from the tenets of the Hippocratic Oath.

People tend to forget that Hippocrates' real legacy to modern medicine was the hippocratic method, not the oath.

Doctors basically have a professional agreement (I think it also ties in with the UN or WHO, can't remember which) not to be involved in torture, which leads to problems in places which still have capital and corporal punishment. You can be seriously criticised and/or struck off for serious breaches of ethics, and every professional body has a code of conduct, but you'd be surprised at how much still comes down to a doctor's personal ethics... and what they think they can get away with.

[hate]

break it down

[Geebs]

take it to the bridge

[mjrpes]

The fact that there is a professional agreement prohibiting torture makes this issue all clear. Thanks Geebs

[hate]

I would guess that a large majority of doctors take it. Or else wouldn't it be easy for a prison to find a doctor to administer a lethal injection? I do admit I know shit about the subject beyond what I read in a wikipedia article on lethal injection.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_today.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html

Thanks.

:icon14:

[hate]

take it to the bridge

[werldhed]

The Hippocratic oath is considered to be a little old-fashioned in this day and age. The only time most doctors see it is embroidered on some objet de mauvais gout which a patient has given them as a gift.

And no, I've never killed any of my patients, not even by mistake.

So why does it seem (according to what I read) that no doctors directly perform lethal injections on prisoners. Wouldn't it be in the best interest of a doctor and society, seeing that there is less chance of an error occuring in the injection, and thus potentially less suffering in the prisoner? And then what about the 'pull the plug' issue? Why do doctors let a patient 'suffer' through starvation (granted, if they're brain dead there isn't any suffering) instead of just getting it over with quickly? I thought the reason for this was a matter of ethics, and this stemmed back from the tenets of the Hippocratic Oath.

People tend to forget that Hippocrates' real legacy to modern medicine was the hippocratic method, not the oath.

Doctors basically have a professional agreement (I think it also ties in with the UN or WHO, can't remember which) not to be involved in torture, which leads to problems in places which still have capital and corporal punishment. You can be seriously criticised and/or struck off for serious breaches of ethics, and every professional body has a code of conduct, but you'd be surprised at how much still comes down to a doctor's personal ethics... and what they think they can get away with.

I would also add that doctors are employed in the practice of healing; it is not their duty to be responsible for administering criminal punishment. That's what people trained in criminal justice are for. If your only job is to inject a death row prisoner, it should be easy to train you for that job without requiring you go to medical school. After all, injections are done all the time by people who aren't doctors.

[Guest]

Meh, I would stole the morphine and stabbed em all... yeah that's what they used to call me ole stabby.

[mjrpes]

So why does it seem (according to what I read) that no doctors directly perform lethal injections on prisoners. Wouldn't it be in the best interest of a doctor and society, seeing that there is less chance of an error occuring in the injection, and thus potentially less suffering in the prisoner? And then what about the 'pull the plug' issue? Why do doctors let a patient 'suffer' through starvation (granted, if they're brain dead there isn't any suffering) instead of just getting it over with quickly? I thought the reason for this was a matter of ethics, and this stemmed back from the tenets of the Hippocratic Oath.

People tend to forget that Hippocrates' real legacy to modern medicine was the hippocratic method, not the oath.

Doctors basically have a professional agreement (I think it also ties in with the UN or WHO, can't remember which) not to be involved in torture, which leads to problems in places which still have capital and corporal punishment. You can be seriously criticised and/or struck off for serious breaches of ethics, and every professional body has a code of conduct, but you'd be surprised at how much still comes down to a doctor's personal ethics... and what they think they can get away with.

I would also add that doctors are employed in the practice of healing; it is not their duty to be responsible for administering criminal punishment. That's what people trained in criminal justice are for. If your only job is to inject a death row prisoner, it should be easy to train you for that job without requiring you go to medical school. After all, injections are done all the time by people who aren't doctors.

One thing you have to understand though is that for lethal injection there is a precise combination and timing of three compoinds used to administer the death. If you fuck up the balance then tragic things can happen, like the prisoner waking just as paralysis sets in, so that they have to suffer through the torture of suffication all the while not being able to move a muscle.

You can read some of that here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_injection

[tnf]

how reliable and valid is the source.

[shiznit]

People tend to forget that Hippocrates' real legacy to modern medicine was the hippocratic method, not the oath.

Doctors basically have a professional agreement (I think it also ties in with the UN or WHO, can't remember which) not to be involved in torture, which leads to problems in places which still have capital and corporal punishment. You can be seriously criticised and/or struck off for serious breaches of ethics, and every professional body has a code of conduct, but you'd be surprised at how much still comes down to a doctor's personal ethics... and what they think they can get away with.

I would also add that doctors are employed in the practice of healing; it is not their duty to be responsible for administering criminal punishment. That's what people trained in criminal justice are for. If your only job is to inject a death row prisoner, it should be easy to train you for that job without requiring you go to medical school. After all, injections are done all the time by people who aren't doctors.

One thing you have to understand though is that for lethal injection there is a precise combination and timing of three compoinds used to administer the death. If you fuck up the balance then tragic things can happen, like the prisoner waking just as paralysis sets in, so that they have to suffer through the torture of suffication all the while not being able to move a muscle.

You can read some of that here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_injection

Interesting, thanks for the link.

[shiznit]

I’m completely opposed to the death penalty, but I thought that lethal injection was quite humane. After reading Wikipedia, I can’t believe it’s in practice. You got people with no experience, no monitoring for life systems and a high percentage of people suspected of being fully conscience but unable to express it while suffocating. It’s a nightmare.

This really bothers me.

On occasion, there have also been difficulties inserting the delivery needles, sometimes taking over half an hour to find a suitable vein. Some of the previous errors in Texas executions include:
• Technicians punctured the inmate repeatedly in both arms and legs for 45 minutes before a vein was located. (Stephen Peter Morin [6], March 13, 1985)
• Executioners struggled for 35 minutes to insert the catheter into an inmate's veins. (Elliot Johnson, June 24, 1987)
• 24 minutes elapsed between the time the initial injection occurred and the time the inmate was pronounced dead; two minutes into the procedure, the syringe came out of the inmate's arm and the chemicals sprayed out towards witnesses. (Raymond Landry [7], December 13, 1988)
• After an inmate had a violent physical reaction to the drugs as they were injected, the Texas Attorney General stated the inmate "seemed to have a somewhat stronger reaction," adding "The drugs might have been administered in a heavier dose or more rapidly." (Stephen McCoy [8], May 24, 1989)

[Guest]

lol yeah I feel so bad some death row inmate was poked with a needle for 40 minutes before being killed. LOL.

If it were up to me I'd make it a game where you just throw the needle at the inmate and see who get's it first. you could make it like a dart game and assign points to each body part. It'd make awsome tv!

[mjrpes]

Yeah, it's quite disturbing when you read about it. You'd think there's be a better way... like a liter of morphine

[Guest]

Or a club to the head.

[shiznit]

I’d prefer facing a firing squad with a cigarette in my mouth.

[shiznit]

Or a crowbar to the head.

What the hell is up with you.

[Guest]

Nothing. I'm just saying, it'd be more humane to do it my way. Lead pipes all the way brother.

[shiznit]

Oh yeah your into lead pipes not crowbars sorry confused it.

[werldhed]

One thing you have to understand though is that for lethal injection there is a precise combination and timing of three compoinds used to administer the death. If you fuck up the balance then tragic things can happen, like the prisoner waking just as paralysis sets in, so that they have to suffer through the torture of suffication all the while not being able to move a muscle.

You can read some of that here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_injection

I am aware of the problems with lethal injections, but consider other procedures...say...CPR. That also requires a significant amount of know-how as well as precise timing, pressure, etc., which if done improperly can result in severe injury to the person. However, you don't have to be a doctor to be CPR certified. You just have to be trained.
I'm not saying lethal injection is so easy a monkey can do it; I'm just saying that it's not a doctor's job. I don't think many people go through medical school with the intent to specialize in executing criminals.