State Wants More People At Executions

POSTED: 7:49 am EDT August 26, 2007

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The state will ask a Marion County circuit court judge this week to approve a plan to add more doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to its lethal injections teams. Other states have similar plans. But the American Medical Association's code of ethics bars its members from participating in executions. So do the American Nurses Association, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Florida Medical Association. Under Florida's proposal, the doctors could be used to insert intravenous tubes into an inmate and keep them flowing. They could also examine the inmate to determine any health issues that might hinder the execution or attach and observe the heart monitor. A doctor or pharmacist would be responsible for purchasing, maintaining and mixing the lethal chemicals. Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights r