Amnesty calls for end to lethal injection

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Amnesty International said in a report released Thursday in Washington it considers lethal injection to be a violation of the oath taken by doctors and nurses.

The report said at least 1,000 people have been executed worldwide by lethal injection since 1982, including more than 900 executions in the United States, seven in the Philippines, four in Thailand, three in Guatemala and an unknown number -- possibly several thousands -- in China, where executions are kept classified.

“Medical professionals are trained to work for patients’ well-being, not to participate in executions ordered by the state. The simplest way of resolving the ethical dilemmas posed by using doctors and nurses to kill is by abolishing the death penalty,” said Jim Welsh, Amnesty International’s Health and Human Rights coordinator.

Lethal injection involves administration of three chemicals: sodium thiopental to render the prisoner unconsciousness, pancuronium bromide to induce paralysis and potassium chloride to stop the heart. However, if the dose of sodium thiopental is inadequate, it opens the possibility for the prisoner to feel the pain of the potassium chloride taking effect, Amnesty International said.