The revised Declaration of Geneva, 2017, and India's contradictory legal provisions

The World Medical Association (WMA) provides ethical guidance to physicians through its Declarations, Resolutions and Statements. WMA first adopted its resolution on physician participation in capital punishment in 1981, which then amended in 2000 and 2008. The revised Declaration of Geneva was adopted by the World Medical Association General Assembly on October 14, 2017, in Chicago. WMA reaffirmed that it is unethical for physicians to participate in capital punishment, in any way, or during any step of the execution process, including its planning and the instruction and/or training of persons to perform executions. Indian Medical Association (IMA) is signatory to all these policies and resolutions since it is a founder member of WMA. Most other national and international associations of Medical and other health professionals also forbid participation of their members in capital punishment.