A closer look at lethal injection

In January 2006, inmate Clarence Hill was saved from the grips of his executioners minutes before receiving a lethal injection. The Supreme Court ruled that Clarence's claim, that lethal injection was "cruel and unusual" under the Eighth Amendment, deserved examination by the courts.

Many people assume that compared to the grusome beheadings and handings of the past, lethal injection is a relatively "humane" method of extinuishing a person's life. In fact, Clarence's civil rights challenge is shedding light on the potential suffering that occurs during lethal injection.

Lethal injection is actually lethal injections, a deadly cocktail of three drugs is streamed into the inmates veins. The first drug, sodium pentothal, is supposed to act as an anasthetic. The second, pancuronium agent, causes the inmate to stop breathing. The third, potassium chloride, causes a massive heart attack and death.

Clarence's objections to this process lay primarily with the first drug: sodium pentothal. Specifically, Clarence voiced concerns that the anesthetic would wear off before death, making his last moments excruciatingly painful.

This is a valid concern; the American Society of Anasthesiologists (ASA) has urged its members to "steer clear" of state sponsored executions. Drugs are administered by workers who aren't necessarily up to the challenge of mixing the potentially painful lethal drugs competently.

Nine months after Clarence's execution was stayed, the District Court and 11th Circuit have denied Hill a stay of execution. Although the constitutionality of lethal injection has not been resolved, Clarence Hill is scheduled to be killed at the Florida State Prison September 20th.

posted by Sachin @ 4:07 PM