Our duty is to save lives and not to end the lives of other people

Our duty is to save lives and not to end the lives of other people

Abdul Karim Al-Sheikhli,
Loc.Consultant Psychiatrist
The Medical Centre,2Manor Court Avenue,Nuneaton ,CV11 5HX,UK.

Dear Editor,

It was very interesting to read the article of Groner, lethal injection : a stain on the face of Medicine

(1). I was surprised to know that during 2001, 65 people were executed in the USA by the use of lethal injections which were given by doctors and nursing staff. Is that the job of the medical profession?

(2)Definitely not. It will change the public image of doctors and nursing staff, their main function being to save lives and relieve suffering.

References

1.Groner.J.I,Lethal injection:a stain on the face of Medicine,BMJ,2002;325:1026-1028.

2.Al-Sheikhli,A.K,

Is that the job of Medical profession?,

http://www.BMJ.com/cgi/eletters/322/7301/1553/a#1534/27th june 2001