Why the Death Penalty is Wrong pt. MMDLXXXVII

Today's story about two Doctors who refused to participate in the execution of a convicted rapist and murderer is good - any story that challanges the humanity of state sposored execution is good.

the anesthesiologists issued a statement through the prison saying they were concerned about a requirement that they intervene in the event that Morales woke up or appeared to be in pain.

"Any such intervention would clearly be medically unethical," said the doctors, who have not been identified. "As a result, we have withdrawn from participation in this current process."

The Doctors weren't questioning the morality of the execution, at least not according to their statement, but maybe everyone else should be:

Prison spokesman Vernell Crittendon said the prison has until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to execute Morales. After that, the "death warrant" expires and officials would have to go back to the trial judge who imposed the death sentence in 1983 for another warrant.

Seeking another warrant could prove difficult for the state, however, since the original sentencing judge, Charles McGrath, joined Morales this month in asking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for clemency in the case.

McGrath said he no longer believed the credibility of a jailhouse informant whose testimony helped land Morales on death row.
(Emphasis added)

Yes, the issues are complex, and yes I am thinking about the victim and her survivors, but the state, using a completely fallible system, is in no position to involuntarily take someone's life.

Ignoring the fact that innocent people have been executed because you think the 'victim deserves justice' is not justice and makes you no better than a murderer.