...Mixing Law and Medicine: A Lethal Combination Abstract “First do no harm” is the foundations that medical practices are based on, but there times in which the lines are blurred and physicians must question their ethical, legal and moral participation in procedures. Physician participation in executions of convicted criminals is explored in this paper. The history of the death penalty, including the early involvement of physicians is surveyed. The pros and cons as well of the legal and ethical grounds for medical professionals are weighed ultimately present the necessity for qualified medical professionals to carry out state sanctioned executions regardless of one’s position on the death penalty. Outline I. Introduction a. Thesis- Even though physician’s participation in the implementation of court ordered executions are in direct violation of the fundamental directive of the Physician’s Code of Ethics, “First, do no harm…,” it is a necessary product of the practice to ensure a “good death” for the convicted. II. History and Development of Capital Punishment a. Primitive Forms b. Physician Involvement in capital punishment progression c. Federal Government Intervention d. Current participation state statistics III. Medical Code of Ethics History IV. American Medical Association (AMA) a. AMA stance b. Acceptable actions c. Unacceptable actions V. The Physician’s Argument a. Same motivations- different point of view VI. Other Ethical...
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...offered through-out the prison system in the state you selected. For Example: The state of North Dakota has numerous programs through-out their prison system. Several of North Dakota’s prisons have drug rehabilitation programs that….etc. They also have a General Education programs that assist inmates who have not graduated high school obtain a GED. They also have……. 5. Research if your state recognizes the death penalty; if so, for what crimes, and what method is used. Also, indicate if your state does utilize the death penalty, how many inmates have been executed thus far. For Example: The state of North Dakota does recognize the death penalty for 1st degree murder only. The state of North Dakota utilizes the gas chamber and lethal injection. Since its inception, North Dakota has executed 15...
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...Christina M. Owens Writing Assignment October 29th, 2012 Capital Punishment by Lethal Injection Capital Punishment is defined as the execution of a convicted criminal by the State as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. Capital Punishment is given when the crime is considered so vast and so horrible that it is over the realm of being forgiven or pardoned. Capital punishment in the United States is officially certified by 38 of the 50 states; the minimum age at time of crime to be subject to the death penalty is 18. Throughout history, statistics have proven that Capital Punishment furthermore known as the death penalty to be a working prevention of major crimes. When the death penalty is carried out, it illustrates to the society that committing a capital crime has deadly consequences, and it seems reasonable that a person is less probable to commit a given act if it results in the persons enduring instant and definite punishment. However, there has been some controversy on rather or not Capital punishment should be used as a way of penalizing criminals. Over the past two decades, there has been a colossal increase in violent crimes. As most Americans come to an understanding, death is the only fitting sentence for these crimes. Even in ancient times' capital punishment was not something that came as a surprise. Even the Bible states, "Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Bible)...
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...John H. Whitehead Professor Roth Whitehead 1 A Moratorium on The Death Penalty Should Be Enacted In Illinois Due to the recent releases of newly exonerated Death Row inmates, individuals and organizations are calling for a moratorium- a cooling off period for state executions. The cases of just a few inmates makes it apparent that this would be a necessary step to save innocent lives. After 17 years in prison, Illinois Death Row inmate Anthony Porter was released from jail after a judge threw out his murder conviction following the introduction of new evidence. This reversal of fortune came just two days before Porter was to be executed. As reported in USA Today, Porter's release was the result of investigative research as conducted by a Northwestern University professor and students. The evidence gathered suggested that Porter had been wrongly convicted. Were these new revelations and the subsequent release of Porter a lucky break or a freak occurrence? Not likely, reports DeWayne Wickham, also of USA Today. He points out that since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the United States in 1976, of those sentenced to death, 490 people have been executed while 76 have been freed from Death Row. This calculates into one innocent person being released from Death Row for every six individuals that were executed. This figure correlates with the 1996 U.S. Department of Justice report that indicates that over a 7-year period, beginning in 1989, when DNA evidence in various cases...
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...for the lethal injection in hopes that it will prevent anymore “botched executions”. They say even with these new procedures, things can still go wrong; problems can still arise. The execution of Angel Diaz is what led to the chamber’s closing. They say it took him twice the normal amount of time to die and he appeared to suffer a great deal because it turns out that no medically trained professional had been there to administer the drugs. Should this one epic fail determine whether or not capital punishment continues to be used in this country? I am going to have to say no. There is a reason why we chose to have the death penalty in the first place, because some crimes that are committed are just too horrible and deserve severe punishment. It is true that what happened to Angel Diaz was a horrible mistake but I was not aware that when attempting to kill someone for crimes committed that we were suppose to make them as comfortable as possible? That whole thing seems a bit hypocritical to me. This may seem harsh but if someone is sentenced to death then obviously the things they have done to land them there make them deserving of their punishment but not pity. One big reason that the death penalty is not supported is that it is seen as barbaric. People say that it violates the “cruel and unusual” clause in the Bill of Rights. The 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution prevents the use of any “cruel or unusual” punishment but I wouldn’t say today method of lethal injection...
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...The Death Penalty and Catholics All criminals should be held responsible for their wrong doings. If a criminal is found guilty of a crime, they should have to pay for their actions. No matter how atrocious the crime is, a human being should not have to pay with his or her life. Yes, it is true that people do commit horrible crimes but to kill a person for their immoral behavior is not just. Some people may think that capital punishment is justifiable but all it is is revenge. Instead of killing the person we should lock them up behind bars, where they are away from the general population. Offer the person counseling so that they can become a healthier person both mentally and spiritually. To just kill someone for their actions does not solve anything. When we kill for justice, the only thing that separates us from the criminal is the reason why we are killing. A death for a death does not help any situation. The victim will not be brought back to life, the only thing that happens is that two families are greatly affected. Two wrongs do not make a right, the death penalty should be abolished from the laws of our country. In the Old Testament there are many references to capital punishment. The Mosaic Law set numerous offenses that were punishable by death. In Exodus 21, God commanded capital punishment for murderers. The consequences were harsh to prevent people from doing wrong. On the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is calling us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. The...
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...Running Head: Capital Punishment Capital Punishment: Is It Cruel and Unusual Punishment? Jennifer N. Orrill Sullivan University CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: IS IT CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT? Capital punishment is a very controversial issue in America. Americans who are against capital punishment might say that innocent people get sentenced to death, because some people are wrongly convicted of murder. Some Americans would also argue that some forms of capital punishment such as the electric chair, firing squad, gas chamber, and hanging are cruel and unusual punishment. Other Americans who agree with capital punishment would argue that murderers have relinquished their rights by their actions and should be punished accordingly. To reduce the number of murders each year in the United States, this country’s judicial system needs to use the death penalty more often. More frequent death penalty sentences would reduce murders in America. In Detroit, hurt by the auto industry's woes, there were 163 murders reported in the first six months of 2009 (Berman, 2009). This country needs to lead by example. If a person is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt guilty of murder then they should automatically get a death sentence. Offenders should not get weaker sentencing for testifying against another, or for petty technicalities. If firm death penalty consequences were known before the criminal committed the murder, they may think twice about committing the crime. In recent years, DNA profiling...
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...Issues In The Death Penalty More than an estimated 18,800 Americans have been executed since the creation of the death penalty dating back to colonial times (University of Alabama). The decision of death for the punishment of a murder in the United States has declined in recent years. In 2009, the number of new death sentences was 112, the lowest level in 30 years. Unfortunately, the U.S. fails to recognize capital punishment as a profound human rights violation and as a frightening abuse of government power. According Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is punishment by death for a crime (Capital Punishment). There are both pros and cons to capital punishment, but many people are against it. The innocent people put on death row, the cost, the lack of proven deterrence and discrimination within the system are all reasons capital punishment should be a big concern. The death penalty can be and has been inflicted upon innocent people. Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence(DPIC). If 130 people have been proven innocent, there are bound to be more people falsely convicted. In Florida, James Bain spent 35 years behind bars before he was finally freed for a crime he did not commit. How was he freed? He was freed through the help of DNA evidence that was unavailable in 1974 when he was convicted of the crime. Now, Bain is entitled to 1.75 million dollars because Florida has a law that automatically...
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...Capital Punishment Position Paper Since the very beginning of the Judicial branch there has being a long debate on whether or not the death penalty is humane. Debates rather the death penalty was humane or not being in the 1800, which lead public hangings to become private. Although the death penalty is believe to originate as early as the 18th Century B.C., in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, there are other accounts of people being killed for crimes as far back as 5th Century B.C.'s. Now days in America the states are divide on the implementation of the death penalty. There are currently 32 states where you can be sentence to death, which the methods include; lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, and firing squad. The debate of the death penalty can be seen in many different ways, but in the bible it was always eye for eye. Now day’s people are too worried about if a person is suffering during their death, at the hand of the government officials. It kind of like they are caring about how the murderer feels, but what about the people who he or she slayed? This is why a majority of the states have gone to a more humane way of killing killers or decided against it all together. Today they’re 63% of Americans that do support the death penalty. The only good arguments the ones against the death penalty have is it is cruel for one and for two appeals take too long, costing tax payers too much money. Other than that they have nothing to really...
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...Making sure someone is 100% guilty can take time and I see the point where people who oppose the death penalty because it can cost more money, but everything cant always be about money. It is about what they did and the consequences that they have to face. I think if you get sentenced to the death penalty then you deserve the electrocution chair, gas chamber, hanging, or the firing squad. You shouldn’t get away with the lethal injection. The lethal injection would be an easy punishment but if DO YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY you do something like the electrocution chair it would be more painful. 2. In conclusion I believe in the death penalty because in all it would be cheaper, the criminals would get what they deserve, and there wouldn’t be as many murders in the world. I think that the reasons that people oppose the death penalty are ignorant because in the Bible it states that there is a time to kill. People who think that it cost more money to kill someone than to keep them alive don’t realize that either way they have to proven guilty or innocent and it doesn’t cost anything to hang somebody but it can cost a lot to feed them and provide for...
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...statement that Capital Punishment should very well be abolished. Throughout its lifetime, Capital punishment has seemed, in many cases to be the most sane and respectable thing to condemn on a person, deserving of such direct discipline. For example, a case held in 1977 that had eventually resulted in the accused's death, was the case of Coker v. Georgia, an alleged murderer, and rapist. In 1974, he was given several sentences on murder, rape and assault charges. He then 3 years into his sentence, escaped Georgia prison, and after breaking into the home of Allen and Elnita Carver, raped Elnita, and stole the family’s vehicle. Cover was convicted of rape, armed robbery, and other offenses, and in June of 1977, was put to death via lethal injection. It was spread over a total span of 4 months and 1 day, and it became the backbone of many cases, like the 2007 Kennedy v. Louisiana case. This case, like the majority of others similar to it, is one people would have a hard time disagreeing with, and most definitely puts...
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...| Death at Midnight: Confessions of an Executioner | Book Project | | | | | The book Death at Midnight the Confession of an Executioner is an autobiography by Donald A. Cabana. The story is about the life of a college graduate who rose to the position of warden at Parchman. At the beginning of his career in criminal justice, Cabana quickly learned the harsh reality of his occupation. Cabana experienced confrontations with both workers and convicts. Cabana's honest and forward-thinking approach to law enforcement caused him to be temporarily fired from his job at Parchman. Cabana returned years later as warden and was finally able to make the necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, the death penalty had once again gained legality a short time before Cabana's rise to power. As warden, Cabana was forced to execute two men. Cabana, uncomfortable with the idea of sentencing young men to death, began to question his beliefs on the criminal justice system. After the execution of Cabana's friend Connie Ray Evans, Donald Cabana retired from the position of warden. Donald Cabana now spends his time teaching at the University of Southern Mississippi. In the book, Cabana mentions frequently the corruption of politics. A prime example of such corruption in the penal system is when Warden John Collier leaves Parchment. The next warden, a good one, had to quit because he refused to do what the politicians wanted him to do. Another example is when Cabana explains the history...
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...The question that I wish to address is if any U.S. states have criminal laws regarding adultery or conception out of wedlock. Many Americans know that a long, long time ago, adultery was a sin and that the adulterer or adulteress would have been punished severely, even killed. Even in the 21st century, there are religions that stone people to death for cheating on their spouses. This is common knowledge. However, what most Americans do not realize is that adultery is still considered illegal in some states. In most states, committing adultery is shameful and looked down upon, but it is not a felon. However, “adultery remains illegal in 21 states across the U.S.” (“Adultery Laws”); although, it might not be strictly enforced. The punishment...
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...Ayn Rand’s novel, Anthem connects to our society and history. The novel and our society both have groups of jobs and laws that have to be followed. Also, the novel and our history both involve communism. To begin with, Anthem and our society both have groups of jobs. Equality 7-2521 states, “They called the Students’ names, and when the Students stepped before them, one after another, the Council said: “Carpenter” or “Doctor” or “Cook” or “Leader.”” (Rand 10). This quote shows that the group of jobs in the novel, are present in today’s society. In conclusion, this quote supports the idea that Anthem has a connection with our society. In addition, Anthem and our society have laws that have to be followed. Equality 7-2521 says,...
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...movies and also some current events that have recently got the whole of Britain talking about capital punishment and why it should be brought back. “Into the abyss” by Werner Herzog, this documentary gave an insight into the lives affected by someone being on death row. And “Pierrepoint” by Adrian Shergold, which is a movie about an executioners perspective. I will also introduce evidence from newspapers and reports, which have been researched over the internet. There are various methods of execution used around the world in civilized nations, but quite often we don’t know the methods involved in executing the act. I hope to shed some light on the background of an execution. Lethal Injection – The prisoner is prepared a short time before the execution by lethal injection. The preparation can include the prisoner having a last meal, shower and change of clothes. Once the prisoner is taken to the execution chamber two IV tubes are inserted into the prisoners arm. At first there is a saline solution fed through the tubes. These tubes run through the wall into the anteroom where the execution will take place. With the tubes in place the curtains are drawn back so that witnesses may watch the execution and the prisoner is allowed to make his last statement...
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