The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to the Medical Council of India (MCI) asking it to end the practice of having a doctor at the time of execution of a convict.
In a letter to MCI president, IMA chief K K Aggarwal said the presence of physicians at the time of execution was a "violation of medical ethics".
"The Indian Medical Association holds the view that no doctor should be present during the process of execution. This is a violation of medical ethics and therefore, a professional misconduct," Aggarwal said in the letter.
Doctors are required to monitor vital signs of convicts during the process of execution, and look for signs of life and then pronounce death.
The World Medical Association (WMA), which came out with Resolution on Physician Participation in Capital Punishment in 1981 and amended in 2008, has advised its member medical associations against participating in the processes of capital punishment undertaken by governments as it is "incompatible with a physician's role as healer".
It also stated that physicians should not facilitate the importation or prescription of drugs for the execution.
"Further, the amended WMA Declaration of Geneva The Physician's Pledge was adopted by the WMA General Assembly on October 14, 2017, in Chicago," Aggarwal said.
"All the policies and resolutions of the WMA are accepted by member national medical associations. This makes India a signatory to all the policies and resolutions adopted by the body (WMA)," the letter added.
Published 25 October 2017, 09:45 IST