Legal Commentary

World Medical Assoc. Expands Ban on Physician Assisted Executions

By Jeralyn

The World Medical Association's General Assembly met Friday and Saturday in Seoul, South Korea. It passed the following resolution, expanding those of prior years prohibiting physcian participation in executions:

RESOLVED, that it is unethical for physicians to participate in capital punishment, in any way, or during any step of the execution process, including its planning and the instruction and/or training of persons to perform executions, The World Medical Association REQUESTS firmly its constituent members to advise all physicians that any participation in capital punishment as stated above is unethical. URGES its constituent members to lobby actively national governments and legislators against any participation of physicians in capital punishment.

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The preface to the document says:

This document was adopted by the 34th World Medical Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal, September 28 - October 2, 1981 and amended by the 52nd WMA General Assembly in Edinburgh, Scotland during October 2000. The revised text is proposed by the Association Médicale Française (AMF). During the 179th Council Session, in May 2008, the Council asked the American Medical Association and the AMF to work on new language but after consideration, it was agreed not to pursue any further edits to this version.

About the World Medical Association:

The World Medical Association is the independent confederation of national medical associations from more than 80 countries and represents more than eight million physicians. Acting on behalf of patients and physicians, the WMA endeavours to achieve the highest possible standards of medical care, ethics, education and health-related human rights for all people.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on October 18, 2008 (boomark / email).