Physician Participation in Executions: Time To Eliminate Anonymity Provisions and Protest the Practice
Authors: Linda L. Emanuel, Leigh B. Bienen
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2001)

Editorials20 November 2001Physician Participation in Executions: Time To Eliminate Anonymity Provisions and Protest the PracticeLinda L. Emanuel, MD, PhD and Leigh B. Bienen, MA, JDLinda L. Emanuel, MD, PhDDr. Emanuel: Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL 60611Dr. Bienen: Northwestern University School of Law; Chicago, IL 60611Search for more papers by this author and Leigh B. Bienen, MA, JDDr. Emanuel: Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL 60611Dr. Bienen: Northwestern University School of Law; Chicago, IL 60611Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-135-10-200111200-00013 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In this issue, Farber and colleagues (1) have provided dramatic findings that warrant the attention of the profession. In their study, a large minority of physicians reported willingness to be personally involved in executions for capital cases. This image of a white-coated symbol of care working with or as the black-hooded executioner is in striking contrast to established physician ethics, which bar physicians from involvement with executions (2, 3). Farber and colleagues found that the most common rationale for physicians' willingness to participate was a sense of citizen obligation. This perception contrasts with the fact that the law goes out ...References1. Farber NJ, Aboff BM, Weiner J, Davis EB, Boyer EG, Ubel PA. Physicians' willingness to participate in the process of lethal injection for capital punishment. Ann Intern Med. 2001;135:884-8. LinkGoogle Scholar2. . Reiser SJ, Dyke AJ, Curran WJ, eds. Oath of Hippocrates.. In: Reiser SJ, Dyke AJ, Curran WJ, eds. Ethics in Medicine: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Concerns. Cambridge, MA: MIT Pr; 1977;:5. Google Scholar3. 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Biko inquest exonerates security police. Amnesty International Monthly Bulletin. 1978; IV:1. Google Scholar10. Truog RD, Brennan TA. Participation of physicians in capital punishment. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:1346-50. [PMID: 8413417] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Lodder L. Who will aid the executioner? in Missouri, nurses have been called to replace doctors. American Medical News. 1993;2:11. Google Scholar12. Demers KR. The medicalization of the death penalty. In: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and Internal Affairs, Policy Conference Final Report. A Decade of Capital Punishment in New Jersey. Presented to the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee Public Hearing on ACR no. 20, 16 March 1992. 355-80. Google Scholar13. Denno DW. Getting to death: are executions Constitutional? Iowa Law Review. 1997;82:319-464. Google Scholar14. Coyne R, Entzeroth L. Capital Punishment and the Judicial Process. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Pr; 1994;27. Google Scholar15. Annas GJ. Killing with kindness: why the FDA need not certify drugs used for execution safe and effective. Am J Public Health. 1985;75:1096-9. [PMID: 4025665] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. Silagy v Thompson. Affidavit of Dr. Edward A Brunner. 90-C-5028, WL 18418 (N.D. Ill. 7 February 1991). Google Scholar17. Weiner DB. The real Doctor Guillotin. JAMA. 1972;220:85-9. [PMID: 4550929] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. Royal Commission on Capital Punishment 1949–1952, Report H.M.S.O. 1953, Cmd No. 8932. Google Scholar19. . Health Care Professional Participation in Capital Punishment: Statement from Professional Societies Regarding Disciplinary Action. American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Nurses' Association, and American Public Health Association. Washington, DC: American Coll of Physicians; 1994. Google Scholar20. Hospital ends role in capital punishment. Chicago Tribune. 8 July 2001. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Dr. Emanuel: Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL 60611Dr. Bienen: Northwestern University School of Law; Chicago, IL 60611Disclaimer: Opinions are the authors' own and may or may not reflect the views of their institutions.Corresponding Author: Leigh B. Bienen, MA, JD, Northwestern University School of Law, 357 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Emanuel: Northwestern University Medical School, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 611, Chicago, IL 60611.Dr. Bienen: Northwestern University School of Law, 357 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPhysicians' Willingness To Participate in the Process of Lethal Injection for Capital Punishment Neil J. Farber , Brian M. Aboff , Joan Weiner , Elizabeth B. Davis , E. Gil Boyer , and Peter A. Ubel Metrics Cited ByLa tâche du médecin est de s’opposer à la mort, pas celle d’être un bourreauPhysician Participation in Executions, the Morality of Capital Punishment, and the Practical Implications of Their RelationshipEthics of Capital PunishmentPhysician Participation in Capital PunishmentSpecial doctor's docket. Lethal injection: policy considerations for medicinePhysician Participation in Executions: Care Giver or Executioner?Participation by physicians in legal executions in the USA: an updatePalliative Care 20 November 2001Volume 135, Issue 10Page: 922-924KeywordsHomicideInterleukinsParalysisPotassiumSedativesSoft tissuesTechniciansTransplantationUrineVision ePublished: 20 November 2001 Issue Published: 20 November 2001 CopyrightCopyright © 2001 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...