title: The power of mercy.
abstract: Throughout history heads of state have reserved for themselves the prerogative to exercise mercy and pardon not only for serious crimes but for lesser ones as well. The newly emerging state of Papua New Guinea is no exception. My experience as the psychiatrist member of the advisory committee on such executive clemency since its inception twelve years ago will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Burton-Bradley
mesh_terms: D002203:Capital Punishment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000639:trends*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D010219:Papua New Guinea