1. Lethal injection challenged as "cruel and unusual" fate.
- Author
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McCarthy, Michael
- Subjects
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LETHAL injection (Execution) , *EXECUTIONS & executioners , *CAPITAL punishment , *CONSTITUTIONAL amendments (United States) , *ANESTHESIOLOGISTS , *MEDICAL societies , *CRIMINAL law - Abstract
This article reports on capital punishment in the United States in light of the provisions governing executions under California law. A court ruled that the condemned could not die in excessive pain, as dictated in the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which forbids "cruel and unusual punishments." Michael Morales was scheduled to die by lethal injection in February 2006, but the execution was postponed by a U.S. District Court Judge, when it was found that no one medically qualified to participate in the execution was available. Two anesthesiologists who had volunteered to observe the execution withdrew when they were asked to intervene should Morales appear to regain consciousness. The execution warrant expired before they could be replaced. The American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Society of Anesthesiology forbid doctors from participating in executions.
- Published
- 2006
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