16 July 2007 :

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has signed a bill making secret the identities of people who carry out executions. The new Missouri law allows workers involved in executions to sue the media or others who disclose their information. Supporters say it is an important protection against threats to workers just doing their jobs. The Department of Corrections said offering confidentiality would help in recruiting medical professionals to assist with executions. Some death penalty advocates also say revealing doctors' identities would expose doctors to sanctions by the American Medical Association, because it has said such doctors would be violating their oath to "first, do no harm."
The Missouri Press Association has not decided whether to file a lawsuit against the law. But the group's attorney, Jean Maneke, said all newspapers should be concerned. "Any time government passes a law that says it's illegal to publish truthful information, that's a strike at the heart of the First Amendment," she said. That amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of the press and free speech. The law takes effect Aug. 28.