Earlier this week I noted the American Board of Anesthesiologists' decision to sanction members who participate in lethal injection executions. Today, Dr. David B. Waisel, an associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, has a letter to the editor in the Washington Post. It's titled, "A tough question for anesthesiologists."
I am concerned that "Physician group draws line on injections" [front page, May 2] could lead some readers to conclude that I oppose the policy of the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) on prohibiting anesthesiologist participation in capital punishment. I do not.
My primary concern is that if we are to have capital punishment (a separate question on which I have insufficient expertise to comment), it should not inflict additional harm. Lethal injection should continue to be challenged because it is at times poorly done. At the least, the frequency of botched executions should be studied to assess the extent of additional harm and the need to pursue other methods.
I view whether physicians should be permitted to participate in lethal injection as a risk-benefit assessment. But it must be recognized that the risks for anesthesiology are greater than the risks for most other medical specialties. ABA board secretary Mark A. Rockoff correctly notes that the characteristics of lethal injection may cause the public to incorrectly associate anesthesiology with lethal injection. Disturbingly, this perceived link encourages authorities to lay the responsibility for lethal injection on anesthesiologists.
Related posts are in the lethal injection and physician indexes.
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