Doctor Fletcher in Denial; Abandons His Professional Oath

Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
P.O. Box 3092
Louisville, Kentucky  40201-3092 Phone: (502) 636-1330
Email: kcadp@earthlink.net

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
CONTACT
Rev. Patrick Delahanty
502-581-9154
502-494-3298 Jonathan I. Groner MD
614-722-3919 Ms. Kaye Gallagher
502-721-8885 Carl Wedekind
502-228-2083
Doctor Fletcher in denial; abandons his professional oath

Dr. Ernie Fletcher, Governor of Kentucky, abandoned his professional oath when he signed a death warrant ordering the killing of Thomas C. Bowling by the State of Kentucky.

An active physician and licensed by the state of Kentucky to practice medicine, Dr. Fletcher is bound by the oath every doctor takes. In part, it states, "I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked nor suggest any such counsel."

In addition, all doctors in Kentucky are bound by the ethical standards of the American Medical Association. The Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty believes these standards clearly call upon physicians to refrain from any action that would produce the death of an inmate.

The AMA Code of Ethics, Section E-2.06, states:

"An individual’s opinion on capital punishment is the personal moral decision of the individual. A physician, as a member of a profession dedicated to preserving life when there is hope of doing so, should not be a participant in a legally authorized execution. Physician participation in execution is defined generally as actions which would fall into one or more of the following categories: (1) an action which would directly cause the death of the condemned; (2) an action which would assist, supervise, or contribute to the ability of another individual to directly cause the death of the condemned; (3) an action which could automatically cause an execution to be carried out on a condemned prisoner."

And Section E-2.20 states:

"The social commitment of the physician is to sustain life and relieve suffering."

Dr. Jonathan I. Groner, an Ohio surgeon and author of "Lethal Injection: A stain on the face of medicine," has also written specifically about the choice that Dr. Fletcher faced:

Clearly, signing a death warrant fulfills all of the AMA's criteria for participating in an execution. The authority of the Governor's office means that Dr. Fletcher's pen will have the same effect as the syringe that will inject the lethal drugs into Mr. Bowling's veins.

Governor Fletcher would do well to remember that it is his duty as a physician to adhere to his profession's ethical teachings. These ethical guidelines, which include the ancient Hippocratic Oath as well as the modern AMA Code of Ethics, state that medical professionals have an obligation to be a morally protective force in society. In the past, when physicians have failed in this obligation, the results have been disastrous.

KCADP hopes Dr. Fletcher will recognize that he can be faithful to his oath, his professional ethical standards and his duty to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by withdrawing his signature from this warrant and, instead, grant clemency to Thomas Bowling and commute his sentence to one that is appropriate.

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