Death Row inmate says he is too fat to be executed

[kstar]

Originally Posted by AXi1257

It's not that difficult to place a central line for IV access. Yeah it has to be an MD to place the line, but it can be done very easily. As for the medication issue, I'm sure that won't hold up either. If it does then everyone on death row is going to get fat and use the same excuse.

Most physicians will have nothing to do with that because of their "do no harm" clause.

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Yes, we have heard this one before. It would be inhumane. Yadda yadda yadda. Was it uncruel and usual what you did to your victim?

Maybe because we're supposed better and more humane than a murderer? It makes us no better than him if we make him suffer, though we're no better than him in putting him to death anyways. Personally I think any form of capital punishment is barbarous, and most of the civilized world agrees, but apparently not the Supreme Court.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by kstar

Most physicians will have nothing to do with that because of their "do no harm" clause.

Isn't Kevorkian looking for work?

Personally I think any form of capital punishment is barbarous, and most of the civilized world agrees, but apparently not the Supreme Court.

Or me.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by kstar

Most physicians will have nothing to do with that because of their "do no harm" clause.

Yeah, selective citation of the Hippocratic Oath, although I'm not sure where you get "most." That "do no harm" stuff doesn't seem to bother lots of doctors when it comes to abortion. (Nor, for that matter, does that specific line in the Hippocratic Oath, now usually left out altogether: "I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy.")

I know that there are medical baords that say they cannot allow doctors to participate in executions because it would violate medical ethics. I also know that there have been court decisions saying that if the state requires the presence of a doctor, the medical board can't discipline the doctor for doing what the law requires.

[barbino]

I laughed at this. He did the deed so he has to pay for his crime, no matter how fat he is now.
MysticCat, is his lawyers defense valid? I served on a jury for the first time recently, and suddenly have this newfound curiosity for all finer points of law. Having someone's future put into your hands (shared by 12 others) is a very daunting task. I hardly slept the night before we had to deliberate.

[SigKapSweetie]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Yeah, selective citation of the Hippocratic Oath

I also don't refuse to operate on those who 'labor under the stone', I don't worship ancient Greek gods and goddesses, and I don't offer my former attendings loans if they're short on cash.

The Hippocratic Oath was a great idea in ancient times. We've evolved a little since then.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by SigKapSweetie

The Hippocratic Oath was a great idea in ancient times. We've evolved a little since then.

Of course. That's as it should be. Which is why I always look a little askance at people who cite it when convenient for them (like in a death penalty argument), but otherwise deem it a thing of the past.

ETA: I'll back off a little, though. I went back and checked, and while similar language is in the Greek version of the Hippocratic Oath, the phrase "do no harm" itself apparently does not come from there, but rather is Latin in origin. So perhaps the reference to the Oath isn't quite on point after all.