March 19
TEXAS:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE----Sunday, March 19, 2006
Physician ethicists call on the Texas Medical Association membership to
endorse the AMA's prohibition of physician participation in lethal
injection
Contact: Abe Bonowitz, 561-371-5204, Citizens United for Alternatives to
the Death Penalty
The following statement is attributable to these individuals:
* Alfred M. Freedman MD, 212-348-8661, Professor and Chairman Emeritus,
Department of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, and past president of
the American Psychiatric Association
* Jonathan I. Groner MD, 614-204-1824, Clinical Associate Professor of
Surgery at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health
* Abraham L. Halpern MD, 914-698-2136, Professor emeritus of psychiatry,
New York Medical College. and past president of the American Academy of
Psychiatry and the Law
**
"Robert Salazar, Jr., is scheduled to be executed in Texas on Wednesday,
March 22nd, 2006, to be followed by Raymond Martinez on March 28th and
Kevin Kiney on March 29th.
"At each of these executions, at least one physician will be present to
examine the inmate and pronounce death, an activity that is a clear
violation of the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics.
"In accordance with American Medical Association policy, the AMA is
requesting the Texas Medical Association to approve the issuing by the AMA
of a statement concerning the Code of Medical Ethics' prohibition of
participation by physicians in executions.
"The AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics state that physicians should be
'dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and
respect for human dignity and rights.' Physicians who enter the death
chamber not only forsake this principle, but their participation shames
the entire medical community as well.
"We urge all Texas Medical Association members to contact the TMA on
Monday, March 20th [Phone: (800) 880-1300, (512) 370-1300] urging the TMA
to approve the release of a statement by the AMA concerning the Code of
Medical Ethics' prohibition of physician participation in legally
authorized executions."
# # #
(source: CUADP)
