Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Right to know?

How hard must it be to have people ask you what you do for a living and not want to answer because you don't want everyone (anyone?) to know you are an executioner. Missouri has just introduced a law which allows its executioners to sue anyone, even the media, who discloses their names. But there are some who don't think it's such a good idea - especially The Missouri Press Association (MPA). They have complained that the measure would violate the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press (and that's probably already received enough of a knocking around under anti-terrorism measures).
One of the reasons for the bill is to solve a small problem the Missouri State Corrections department seem to be having - they are unable to recruit a doctor with expertise in anaesthesia (as required by Federal law) to assist in executions. Until they can do that, executions in the State will remain on hold and the 48 peoplle scheduled to be executed will remain on Death Row.
So really, why has all this come up? And what are the implications? The MPA is reported as acknowledging that there is a need to protect the identity of prison employees especially if they could be harmed if exposed. But, their arguments is that if you don't know who is carrying out an executions - how do you know they are qualified to do it? For example, if an executioner has been sued 20 times for malpractice, does the public have a right to know that that individual is the executioner? What about the prisoner? Would he or she have the right to request another executioner? Where does the State's responsibility to duty of care begin and end on Death Row?

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