July 7, 2006
Background information on physician participation in lethal injection
Where
ASA stands on lethal injection
ASA does not take a position on capital
punishment, as this is not the practice of medicine.
ASA recognizes the American Medical
Association's ethical principles about physician
participation in lethal injections, in particular
that physicians should not participate in executions,
either by direct action or by performing ancillary
functions. This includes making recommendations about
drugs to be used.
Physicians are healers, not
executioners. The doctor-patient relationship depends
upon the inviolate principle that a doctor uses his
or her medical expertise only for the benefit of
patients.
Further background for ASA members
can be found in the ASA Members Only Section.