“Dead man walking” is an American film based on (as many people would say) Matthew Poncelet´s execution due to several crimes committed in his hometown: Louisiana
On his way to the “death row” he is joined by a nun: Sister Helen Prejean, who is a beautiful example of mercy and love. Her purpose is to avoid Poncelet´s execution in a role of: spiritual guide. She also helps him to assume his responsibility for the teenager’s deaths. Actually, she says that redemption is possible, even for Poncelet, but he needs to take responsibly for what happened and stop denying the facts, in order to die in peace.
In my opinion, the plot of “Dead man walking” is not centered on Capital punishment at all. What it chocked me the most was the sad use of medical procedures to execute people.
When the movie is about to end, a nurse starts to clean Poncelet´s arm with a soaked cotton ball to prepare the area of the shot. Then, she prepares the via that will conduce the lethal injections. She leaves the room and the execution starts.
I believe the use of medical procedures to execute people is just wrong. Medical procedures have a purpose beneath: to promote care, love and attention to people. The use of these to kill is an oxymoron, they shouldn’t be used to “achieve” someone’s death, instead, they should be used to help people in pain, only. I strongly believe they use Medicine as a weapon. They involve a totally different area in an action not supported by medical precepts.
