26 April 2005 :

doctors from across India vehemently opposed the proposal to replace hanging by the neck in case of death with lethal injection saying it was against the profession’s oath for a medic to take life. The strong opposition to the recommendation by the Law Commission came during the central council meet of the 69th annual conference of Indian Medical Association (IMA). "The Law Commission has observed that hanging by neck is brutal and should be replaced by the more sophisticated lethal injection. This is against the oath that doctors take before being inducted into the service -- that they will strive only to save lives," Dr Vinay Aggarwal, secretary general of IMA said. The recommendation had caused confusion in the medical fraternity with its 'obvious contradiction' of the basic nature of professional duties expected of doctors, he said. IMA national president Sudipto Roy said the association had written to the union law ministry on its resentment over the issue. No doctor would be willing to inject a lethal dose to anybody, even if the person is facing a death penalty for the most heinous of crimes," he said.