Life and Death Bass Ackwards

Working late tonight, which I haven't had to do in quite a while. Tech support for some else's network.

So I was in the car, going to pick up a downed router, and turned on NPR, which I usually do when I'm in the car for more than 5 minutes.

So first I hear about the Supreme Court messing with partial birth abortion bans, and the very next story is about some hero of an anesthesiologistrefusing to participate in an execution.

The NPR commentary was sympathetic toward the poor Doc, who felt that assisting in the execution violated his code of medical ethics. (This despite the fact that he would be easing the man's last moments.)

Large chunks of the partial-birth abortion issue, according to NPR, were chopped off the tree that no "medical consensus" of doctors agreed that partial birth abortions are sometimes wrong. Anything that interferes with the mother's right to choose, according to the Supreme Court, when and how her baby dies, is against the Constitution.

Americans get the government we deserve. I'm not a capital punishment advocate, but where are the doctors expressing public moral outrage against the violation (collectively) of their oaths, Hippocratic and otherwise?

My new motto, with a nod to Ursula K. LeGuin.

First, do only what you must.
Then, do no harm.

Goodnight. I've got a long night ahead of me.