The state-sanctioned homicide of Troy Davis in Georgia had the highest media profile of any lethal injection execution in the United States in years. It also brought the name Rainbow Medical Associates' back into the news, and sparked a debate about the ethics of physicians hiring themselves out to oversee executions.
But there's something genuinely chilling about Rainbow Medical Associates, outside of the fact that a company that helps execute people is called 'Rainbow'. What's at the end of this rainbow? A lethal injection.
A story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2005 provides more details (excerpts) :
The prison system now pays Rainbow Medical Associates $18,000 per execution.The technology exists to have robots conduct and monitor all stages of the execution of a human being. Why the tech isn't more widespread has more to do with tight state budgets than a reluctance to terrify the masses about the existence of an execution robot.
State officials were in a hurry to sign Rainbow on June 29, just two days before the scheduled execution of convicted murderer Robert Karl Hicks on July 1. Since Rainbow Medical Associates has had the contract, its doctors have presided over three executions.
Dr. Carlo Musso, who signed the contract with the state on behalf of Rainbow Medical Associates, said the group of seven to 10 doctors provides medical services to county jails throughout Georgia and is available to monitor executions.
"If an execution is going to be carried out, it's going to be carried out," Musso said. "Our role is to make sure it is to be performed with the least amount of pain and suffering as possible. That's my duty."
Just don't give the bastards wheels.
Or wings.
