Ethical Concerns Halts Death Penalty Execution

Prison officials in California postponed indefinitely the execution of a condemned killer, saying they could not comply with a judge’s order that a medical professional administer the lethal injection.

The ethical showdown came to a head when two anesthesiologists refused to participate in the execution after learning they would be expected to tell prison officials whether or not the prisoner needed more sedation or possibly even give him more medication, thereby allowing the execution to proceed. Prison officials couldn't find a doctor, nurse, or other person licensed to inject medications to give a fatal dose of barbiturate.

The AMA and many other medical groups have long opposed doctors having any role in executions, including monitoring a prisoner’s vital signs or giving technical advice.