Press Release
From Dr. Jon Groner & Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sunday, March 19, 2006 CONTACT (PRODUCERS - Reps Available for Talk Shows) Abe Bonowitz - CUADP 561-371-5204 - Mobile Jonathan I. Groner MD 614-722-3919 - Office Physician ethicists call on the Texas Medical Association membership to endorse the AMA's prohibition of physician participation in lethal injection For immediate release March 19, 2006 Contact: Abe Bonowitz, 561-371-5204, Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty The following statement is attributable to these individuals: * Alfred M. Freedman MD, 212-348-8661, Professor and Chairman Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, and past president of the American Psychiatric Association * Jonathan I. Groner MD, 614-204-1824, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health * Abraham L. Halpern MD, 914-698-2136, Professor emeritus of psychiatry, New York Medical College. and past president of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law "Robert Salazar, Jr., is scheduled to be executed in Texas on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006, to be followed by Raymond Martinez on March 28th and Kevin Kiney on March 29th. "At each of these executions, at least one physician will be present to examine the inmate and pronounce death, an activity that is a clear violation of the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics. "In accordance with American Medical Association policy, the AMA is requesting the Texas Medical Association to approve the issuing by the AMA of a statement concerning the Code of Medical Ethics' prohibition of participation by physicians in executions. "The AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics state that physicians should be 'dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.' Physicians who enter the death chamber not only forsake this principle, but their participation shames the entire medical community as well. "We urge all Texas Medical Association members to contact the TMA on Monday, March 20th [Phone: (800) 880-1300, (512) 370-1300] urging the TMA to approve the release of a statement by the AMA concerning the Code of Medical Ethics' prohibition of physician participation in legally authorized executions." *** SENT BY: Abraham J. Bonowitz Director, CUADP <abe@cuadp.org>
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