http://66.225.205.104/SO20090501.mp3
The North Carolina Supreme Court Friday ruled that the state Medical Board cannot discipline doctors who take part in executions. WFAE's Simone Orendain has more: The four to three decision could clear the way for the state to carry out executions again. The North Carolina Medical Board effectively forced a death penalty moratorium three years ago, with a policy to discipline doctors that participate in executions. Execution in North Carolina is by lethal injection. And the state department of corrections requires a physician's presence to ensure the injection is administered properly. Spokeswoman Jean Fisher Brinkley says the ruling does not change the Medical Board's view. "The Medical Board has always argued that the physicians role is to end suffering and preserve life. And the board's position still is that active for this physician participation in executions simply runs counter to the core values of medicine." Fisher says following the supreme court decision, there's very little the board can do now to make sure doctors don't take part in executions.