American Board of Anaesthesiologists warn of penalties for assisting death penalty procedures

In a surprise manoeuvre that will send shockwaves throughout the United States and specifically the medical profession, the American Board of Anaesthesiologists has finally mirrored the view of the American Medical Association by revoking the certification of members if they participate in the execution of prisoners by lethal injection.

The risk of being unable to work in most hospitals, clinics and walk-in centres because of the new proposal could affect more than 40,000 of the groups members.

Currently half of the states that continue to perform state-sanctioned executions require a doctor; if not an anaesthesiologist to be present so that they can consult on dosages and in some cases even infuse the drug cocktails into the prisoners.

Informed back in February, it is hoped that the deterrence of assisting executions will encourage medical professionals to re-evaluate their willingness to support the death penalty in light of how it will affect their career.

In a worryingly (but no doubt reactionary) manoeuvre, capital punishment supporters are now saying that medical professionals are not required during the execution procedure- and that prison employees can administer the necessary drugs.

As highlighted by Reprieve volunteer Kate Morris in her April 26th blog post “Utah prisoner Ronnie Lee Gardner chooses firing squad over lethal injection”, executioners in Ohio once spent two hours trying to put prisoner Romell Broom to death; struggling to find a vein, they jabbed the needle into Broom’s arms, legs, hands and ankle bone while he screamed in pain. This scene of aggravated harm and distress could potentially become a regular occurrence if more anaesthetists choose to refrain from assisting in the deployment of drugs during the execution procedure.