Joe Vincoli: Nonsensical N.C.

The N.C. House recently passed House Bill 774, an act to amend the law requiring the presence of a licensed physician at the execution of a death sentence. The bill’s purpose is to remove the existing requirement that a “licensed physician” be present.

The bill states that a “medical professional other than a physician” must be present, which means “a physician assistant, advanced degree nurse, registered nurse, or emergency medical technician-paramedic who is licensed, certified, or credentialed by the licensing board, agency, or organization responsible for licensing, certifying, or credentialing that profession.”

Meanwhile, the Senate passed Senate Bill 2 to allow magistrates, assistant registers of deeds and deputy registers of deeds to recuse themselves from performing duties related to marriage ceremonies due to sincerely held religious objection.

So while the state is rushing to protect magistrates from the abhorrent task of having to marry gay couples, it is rushing to require, as a condition of employment, that Department of Public Safety medical professionals perform executions without any regard to their religious convictions.

At the same time, the governor has decided to designate many of these physician assistants, nurses and EMTs as his personal “at will” employees. So, if they don’t comply, they can be fired.

So now DPS employees will be required as a “condition of employment” to execute inmates to whom they just provided long-term health care services.

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Joe Vincoli: Nonsensical N.C.."