By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists is encouraging its members not to participate in executions.
The association recently sent a letter out to all 805 of its members echoing the opposition to aiding executions first expressed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
The letters are in response to a federal court ruling that put Missouri's executions on hold until the state can come up with a way to ensure its lethal injections pose no risk of unnecessary pain and suffering.
The judge's ruling said anesthesiologists should play a central role in carrying out executions.
But the state has been unable to find any anesthesiologists willing to participate.