Death Penalty Anesthesia

weirdRN, RN · May 23, 2006

That is an interesting question. Yes. I don't view it as much different than being in hospice.

MmacFN · May 23, 2006

Is this even something CRNAs can do? Or with the need to pronounce does it preclude CRNAs from the practice?

EricJRN, MSN, RN · May 23, 2006

Interesting, indeed. Not sure if I'd want my IV infiltration making national news, though.

weirdRN, RN · May 23, 2006

about the whole pronouncing death... Here, at the nursing home where I currenly work, The senior Nurse on Call pronounces, and the Dr counter signs. Would this be a similar situation?

burn out · May 23, 2006

Whats the difference in performing anesthesi while someone gets an abortion?

Howard I · May 23, 2006

I'd do for FREE!:yeahthat:

susswood · May 23, 2006

The practice of anesthesia is to render someone free of pain during a painful procedure. Administration of anesthetic agents as part of death by lethal injection is NOT the practice of anesthesia because the medications are used to kill the person, not help them. Of course, I would never do this (even if it were legal) and hope that my colleagues would respond the same way.

Also, the difference between the administration of anesthetic drugs for the death penalty and for an abortion is that the anesthetic administered during a D&C is for the comfort of the woman undergoing the procedure and does not in fact kill or harm the zygote/embryo/fetus in any way.

p.s. trying to start riots is in poor taste

Howard I · May 23, 2006

Not trying to start a riot..........dude asked an opinion and I gave it. Didn't say I would perform anesthesia..............maybe just a good dose of panc. call the heorifice and go for a smoke.

jwk · May 23, 2006

I'd do for FREE!:yeahthat:

A lot of people say that, but when you get right down to it, not many actually would.

Regardless of your personal opinion about capital punishment, actually participating brings it to a whole different level, and from an ethical standpoint, is pretty indefensible for medical professionals.

And no, it's not the same as giving someone an anesthetic during an abortion, nor is it remotely similar to pronouncing someone dead.

MmacFN · May 23, 2006

Hey suss

The thing is, it has been deemed the practice of anesthesia based on the need for an anesthesist to give the medications. At least, that is what i saw on a news program the otherday. They were discussing the difficulty in finding more anesthesiologists for medication delivery in executions.

I agree with your definition of anesthesia. However, consider this:

The Painful Procedure = Paralysis, cardiac asystole & respiratory arrest causing severe pain, panic and distress

The role of anesthesia = to alleviate the above symptoms via medications.

It isnt hard to see how this could be seen as the pervue of anesthesia. Personally, im not arguing it one way or the other. I am just asking the question in regards to CRNAs and this as a possible job for them.

The practice of anesthesia is to render someone free of pain during a painful procedure. Administration of anesthetic agents as part of death by lethal injection is NOT the practice of anesthesia because the medications are used to kill the person, not help them. Of course, I would never do this (even if it were legal) and hope that my colleagues would respond the same way.
Also, the difference between the administration of anesthetic drugs for the death penalty and for an abortion is that the anesthetic administered during a D&C is for the comfort of the woman undergoing the procedure and does not in fact kill or harm the zygote/embryo/fetus in any way.
p.s. trying to start riots is in poor taste

susswood · May 23, 2006

It is unethical for anesthesia providers to administer drugs to facilitate death by lethal injection. I don't know about the rest of the country, but in California, the drugs are NOT administered by anesthesia providers. In fact, a recent scheduled execution has been indefinitely delayed due to the lack of proof that the condemned is not experienceing "cruel and unusual punishment" while the drugs are administered by people untrained in the use of anesthetic drugs. Please refer to the following article from the Los Angeles Times.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-executions28apr28,1,2859637.story