Since 1977, lethal injection has increasingly become America’s favorite method of execution. Hailed by its supporters as ‘humane’ and supposedly such a cheap methodology of legal murder, it has made all other methods practically obsolete.
But is it so humane after all?
I, of course, am prone to disagree. The very idea of execution seems inhumane to me. Some people, though, don’t think this however.
But now I have science on my side.
First, let’s look at the electric chair. The chair was brought in because it was seen as more humane than existing methods. (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?).
Over time, it became clear that the chair wasn’t humane at all. Fair enough, it’s not quite how it’s often portrayed in the movies. The fingers splay, the body bucks forward a little and strains against the restraints, and then the body slumps back and the inmate in question is dead.
However, things often went horribly wrong. The condemned would often receive severe burns on the skin around the straps. There are cases of flames erupting from the cap and of sudden nosebleeds sending blood spilling down the condemned man’s chest. Witnesses always commented on a distinct stench of burning flesh.
And so lethal injection gradually overtook the chair in the race to execute as many people as possible. In most states, the lethal injection is comprised of three chemicals injected in sequence to prevent precipitation. The first, sodium thiopental, is considered as an ultra-short-acting bromide and is effective as an anesthesia for just a few minutes. The next, pancuronium bromide (marketed as Pavulon), works by paralyzing the skeletal muscles without affecting the nerves or brain. This makes the individual unable to move or speak. (Note: in Tennessee, it’s actually a crime for veterinarians to use this drug to euthanize pets, because it does not actually cause unconsciousness but simply gives the impression of serenity). The final drug in the sequence, potassium chloride, stops the heart. Death is caused by cardiac arrest. However, this drug would cause excruciating pain if the individual was not properly anaesthetized.
But the lethal injection is human, right? Witnesses at an execution watch an inmate become drowsy, unconscious, stop moving and then stop living. They look peaceful, tranquil, serene. The witnesses leave thinking that the lethal injection was, indeed, just too good for them.
But is it?
Let’s look back. The anesthetic, sodium thiopental, wears off after just a few minutes. On average, it takes several minutes to die from lethal injection – although in some cases it’s been known to take up to two hours, which only adds fuel to this fire. So when the sodium thiopental wears off, the inmate in question regains consciousness. However, by this point they have already been injected by pancuroniun bromide and are thus unable to move or speak at all! This means that they are PERFECTLY CONSCIOUS but UNABLE TO MOVE OR SPEAK AT ALL when they are injected by the final drug, which causes EXCRUCIATING PAIN!
According to the testimony of Dr. Mark J. S. Heath who teaches anesthesiology at Columbia, the effect of this ‘cocktail’ is “that the sodium thiopental can be inadequate or wear off…” leaving “ the prisoner conscious, paralyzed, suffocating and subject to extreme pain from the potassium chloride.”
And according to Judge Ellen Hobbs Lyle “The subject gives all the appearances of a serene expiration when actually the subject is feeling and perceiving the excruciatingly painful ordeal of death by lethal injection… The Pavulon gives a false impression of serenity to viewers, making punishment by death more palatable and acceptable to society”.
To conclude, lethal injection looks a pleasant way to die for the viewers and the supporters but in reality it is a dreadfully painful experience which in no way can be perceived as ‘humane’.
Thus concludes the lethal injection lie. It looks pretty to society but is perhaps the most brutal thing that could be done to another human being.
Makes one wonder why the hell there are still men on death row right now in a country that forbids cruel and unusual punishment. Take a stand. Help stop this madness.
