I know this is a common heated issue of debate, but I was curious to know how you all feel about people being put to death for their crimes being as doctors, or potentials doctors are taught to save lives.
I work in healthcare currently, and I think for the most part I oppose it. Sure it costs money to house these people and feed them, but so does killing them and burying them, and providing social security for the children left behind and in addition to (in some cases) their already support from the government such as welfare/medicaid. So Im not convinced the money issue is a valid argument.
Sure if some person brutally raped and murdered my daughter, I would probably take his life with my own hands. Yep. Probably would and feel justifiably so about it. But I would be acting irrationally, or maybe even *rational* for the situation, but not necessarily right.
What is your point of views?

I disagree with capital punishment. Murder is murder, capital punishment is no different. I don't know how anyone can "flip the switch" so to speak. The desire to get revenge is natural, but what does it accomplish in the end? It certainly wouldn't bring your loved ones back to life, or change what happened to them. I think especially as medical professionals (or medical professionals to be) who are trained to save lives no matter who the patient is (hippocrates oath) it goes against the ideals and morals that we possess. For a medical professional to assist in capital punishment is even more astounding to me.

Just my :twocents: !

M-A

Just wanted to add my :twocents:

Capital Punishment is a moral and a criminal issue, not a medical one. You cannot imply that a good and caring doctor (due to the hippocratic oath) cannot support capital punishment.

I am a kind and caring person. I love the patients that I have worked with, and I intend to be a wonderful doctor. BUT I do believe in capital punishment. This does not make me a less compassionate person!

If you were one to believe in God, and then really sat down and thought about what He/She would want...I am guessing God would NOT say it is OK for me to make the judgment that someone should DIE at my discretion ( unnatrually)...

Yes, I definately wouldnt want to be the judge of that.
I just feel that we as the *people* dont have the right to kill another for any reason...and the government/judiciary shouldnt have that right either you know, kinda above the law that is imposed on everyone else.

Another point I would like to make is how the law is in a lot of ways based upon the bible. Here's some examples: Can only be married to one person, in some states sadamy is illegal, etc. How can a nation talk about God in their documents, and base so many things in biblical terms and decide it is OK to put someone to death? To me, this is contradictory logic. Just some food for thought.

I think this can be justified Biblically by the 'eye for an eye' scriptures.
Also the Bible says that he/she who lives by the sword should die by the sword.

I don't know how I feel about CP these days. My view has changed over the years from extreme tolerance and patience of/for all people, to feeling extremely fed up with senseless violence, pain and suffering of innocent people, AND I fear for the quality of life for my step (and future) children. At this stage in my life, I feel hurt and exhausted by hearing of painful stories of violence which seem to grow worse every year, not better. My first desire would be to see every person on death row rehabilitated. My second inclination would be to allow "he/she who lived by the sword die by the sword.'

I'm not saying this is "right,' I'm just expressing how I feel.

Conversely, I also believe that an 'eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind (including myself), so mercy and grace is needed for every human being. But where should we draw the line? Human life may be a good place. But again, I really don't know.
I'm grateful not to be in the shoes of a judge, jury or a governor. I couldn't carry the burden on my shoulders of the responsibility of making this great life/death decision.

Shauna

I was referring more to the 10 commandments, "Thou shall not kill" in particular. I do see your point about an eye for an eye, however.
I feel that the government contradicts itself time after time. Public schools are no longer allowed to pray because of others not wanting to be coersed into prayer, if they dont believe in such.....but yet again, many laws are based by christianity--the belief in God. It is like the people/public systems cant express their beliefs because they will be miscontrued by the nonbelievers----and America is so diverse, but at the same time, we must all, abide by laws of christianity--believing in God or not. Is this not coersion if the prayer thing is? I guess that is another topic though!
I guess the big picture is, is that I dont have faith in the government's decisions, and that they are justifiable or even right based on their contradiction, which further validates to me, how they should not have the divine right to take someone's life. I dont know the solution, but one thing I do know...after someone is murdered----nothing can make it right. I guess we cant please everybody----and nothing is 100% at deterring others from their heneous crimes even after makeing examples out of the others.

By the way...I private mailed you!

Yes, I understand the seemingly contradiction. I have often felt that way too. However I've read in the Bible how God commanded seemingly incorrigible corrupt people to be killed at times. But still, this was a divinely made judgment, and not given for mankind alone to make. So I can see the point of view that mankind is not in the position to make this kind of decision, and I have always agreed that we shouldn't. Today, I don't know what to think...

I dont know the solution, but one thing I do know...after someone is murdered----nothing can make it right. [/QUOTE]


Yes this is true, and if I were in the position to judge, I'm sure I would never order the death penalty for ANYONE because I would fear that I was 'playing God.' I guess this makes me a hypocrite because I sometimes feel so fed up with hearing about heinous crimes that a part of me wants to see evil done away with so bad that I don't react negatively when I hear of a malicious murderer being sentenced to death by some other authority. For instance, when I heard that the 'DC sniper' was sentenced to death, before I had a chance to digest the info, I was shocked to hear cheering come out of my mouth! This is embarrassing to admit because I am a Christian, and it doesn't seem 'right' to have reacted that way over such news. But I felt such grief for the victims and their families throughout the very LONG stretch of time that they were terrorized, and I felt so angry over the complete disregard for human life these guys seemed to have, and the lack of remorse they seemed to display (I could go on). Together, all these factors made me rejoice when 'justice' was finally served. I actually NEVER thought that I supported the DP until that very moment when I spontaneously rejoiced.

I'm grateful for this post. It's making me think about what side of the fence I truly stand on with regards to the DP. However, in this moment I must admit, I'm still really not sure.

Shauna
Hi Dana! :wave: I PM'd you back!

I can truly say, that I feel in a lot of cases, such as the DC sniper, they deserved it. Like, "Ha, Ha." I can admitt to that, but I am human and I have those natural feelings of vengence of a sort, and for this very reason I mostly feel that a human such not order to take someone elses life. I could never be a judge!

hmmm...yes, this is a difficult call. As discussed, on the one hand, all those :censored: should die, like the people they've hurt or killed. On the other hand, who should decide the fate of a particular individual? Not another human being, I don't think.

Overall, I think I oppose the death penalty.

(not very profound, but I'm kinda wishy washy about the topic)