Doctors in Iraq face amputation dilemma

The introduction in Iraq of laws allowing amputation of the hand or foot as punishment for crime has led to waves of protest in the country and to fears by doctors that if they refuse to carry out the amputations they will be arrested. According to the international human rights pressure group Amnesty International, four people have been sentenced, of of whom two have had amputations, since the law was introduced. Amnesty says that, according to Decree No 59, passed by Saddam Hussein's Revolutionary Command …