![[Credit: cardioedge.com]](http://scienceline.org/_s/files/2007/11/prefillable-syringes.jpg)
The U.S. Supreme Court is now closely assessing the answer to this question as they consider the constitutionality of a method of execution that’s used in all but one of 38 death penalty states.
Execution by lethal injection has largely replaced other forms of capital punishment, such as electrocution and the cyanide gas chamber, because it is seen as a more humane way of ending a life. Constitutional law states that capital punishment is only acceptable if it doesn’t violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. A person shouldn’t be aware of or able to sense any pain during the procedure. Lethal injection is thought to adhere to this policy because an initial drug is used to induce a state of unconsciousness where pain can no longer be registered. For the person being executed, subsequent injections that rapidly stop their breathing and heartbeat should occur without their sensing it.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington D.C., the protocol for lethal injection in most states involves a sequence of three shots that are delivered via intravenous drips inserted in each arm.
The first of the three injections is an anesthetic, sodium thiopental, which is a fast-acting barbiturate that depresses the activity of the central nervous system. This initial shot doesn’t serve as an analgesic (pain killer) that numbs pain nerves, but instead rapidly puts a person into a state of unconsciousness that’s theoretically deep enough to make pain undetectable. The drug amplifies the effect of GABA, a neurotransmitter that depresses brain activity, while also blocking the actions of an excitatory brain receptor, AMPA, which acts in many parts of the brain. The state of unconsciousness can be reached in as little as 30 seconds. A single dose of this anesthetic is intended to last throughout the last two injections to prevent any pain during the moments leading up to death (pronounced after the heart stops beating for a certain amount of time).
After the initial injection, the intravenous line is quickly flushed with saline, a neutral substance commonly used to push a drug into the bloodstream more quickly. Subsequently, pancuronium bromide is administered. It acts as a neuromuscular blocker, preventing a nerve messenger, acetylcholine, from communicating with muscles. The result is a complete muscle paralysis, which causes respiratory arrest since the diaphragm—a muscle imperative to pulling air into the lungs—stops working.
Following another saline flush is the final injection, potassium chloride. This last dosage of chemical floods the heart with charged particles that interrupt its electrical signaling, stopping it from beating. According to a 2002 study in the Journal of Forensic Science, the average length of time from the first injection to death is 8.4 minutes.
The dosage of each drug administered in lethal injection is supposed to be redundant, which means that the amount of chemical contained in each shot is lethal. For example, during surgeries, patients are normally given 100 to 150 milligrams (mg) of sodium thiopental, the initial anesthetic used in capital punishment, over a period of 10 to 15 minutes – while up to 5,000 mg are provided during executions. For pancuronium bromide, 40 to 100 micrograms per kilogram of body weight is normally given pre-operatively (to aid intubation) while a thousand times that amount is used for execution. When all three injections are used in executions, the aim is to put the person into a state of total unconsciousness before they die from a mix of respiratory and cardiac arrest.
Not only that, to ensure that the first injection reliably maintains a sedated state during the entire execution, an effective amount must constantly be in the blood system to prevent any chance of regaining awareness and, in turn, suffering, according to a study published this year in Public Library of Science Medicine. This is especially important when a person being executed could potentially be in a state that incapacitates them from physically showing discomfort while still experiencing it nonetheless. (See an article concerning the controversy over one Florida case in the St. Petersburg Times.)
Improper delivery of the anesthetic, either because an insufficient amount is administered or the IV is misplaced in the arm, is one of many aspects of lethal injections that poses a challenge to its public acceptance.
Researchers also have debated lethal injection. According to a 2005 letter in The Lancet, which looked at post-mortem toxicology reports of executions carried out in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, the blood concentrations of thiopental were low enough that 21 out of 49 executions (43 percent) had concentrations that allowed for a regaining of awareness.
This finding was disputed in the same issue by Jonathan Groner, its also gets quickly absorbed into fat and muscle tissue—even after death. When considering this and the manner in which the anesthetic is delivered (a ‘bolus’ injection of a high quantity, all at once) post-mortem blood samples cannot be a reliable measure of the amount of sodium thiopental that was circulating in the blood.
Another controversial aspect of lethal drug administration is that health professionals are not present during the procedure. Currently, doctors and nurses in the United States are banned by their professional organizations from participating in executions.
The reliability of painless lethal injection procedures will come up when the Supreme Court hears the constitutional challenges specific to the three-chemical protocol. This case, which will be argued early next year and should be decided by early next summer, is in response to an appeal by two Kentucky death row inmates who challenged the execution process. Their argument is based on the belief that the injection of the three-chemical cocktail inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering that could be avoided.
November 15th, 2007 at 9:10 am
How can any way of murder, by the state or person, be ‘humane’. To kill a person who is defenceless and no threat to you is murder. A persons life should only be taken when that person is a direct threat to you or others.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:42 pm
why are elephants grey?
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:42 pm
why are people tall?
December 18th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
why are the prisoners killed via injection? why dont the prison executioners just shoot them like they did in world war 2? Do you feel pain when shot in the head because i would rather that personally than a needle 6 inches long in my arm 3 times and dying in a matter of 8.4 minutes why not die instantly with a quick shot in the head.
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:22 pm
In response to Martin Jones. I read that you stated that to kill a person who is defenseless is murder. I must ask at this point, have you ever had a family member raped and killed? They didn’t have a choice to appeal the decision made by their attacker, there is no plea bargain available for them or their families. The person who committed the act of violence knew full well what they were doing and what the outcome would be if they were caught and convicted. I myself believe it is inhumae to let them chose the way they will die. The family membes of their victims should chose this fate!
January 4th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I agree with Me in Tennessee. Once you have a family member killed or raped it’s a whole different story.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:44 am
Firstly I dont see how two wrongs make a right anyone who murders or rapes or inflicts any sort of evil on another human being should be punished
for example a cold blooded pre meditated murder carried out by a person is clearly wrong so it makes no sence to then do the exact same thing to that person only its worse because their murder is pre meditated for several years and know exactly how they will die but becausae the state is carrying the process its deemed ok. the person they murdered would have had no idea until maybe they turned round to see a gun pointing at their head and then a split second later a bullet through the head. If capital punishment has to stay I dont see how they seem to find it difficult to find a humane method to murder the inmate. what the hell is wrong with putting the inmate out as though having an operation and then stop the body functions I personally think they want to make them suffer during the excution its bizarr that its legal to violently murder someone then be allowed home and get payed for it. ELECTROCUTION, POISON GAS, INJECTIONS, HANGING are all as wrong as the crime they are susposed to be punishing. thanks for reading
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I think that lethal injection is too good for any murder. To kill a murder, first find out how they killed their victims, then kill them that way. if wanted to the family of the victim can even help kill them.
March 15th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
THANK YOU! i have been looking for this information everywhere and wasn’t able to find it anywhere! you are a lifesaver!
March 18th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Ok, first (Martin Jones) the reason he is no threat and “defenseless” is because they have restrained him… why? Because he is a dangerous KILLER! Duuh! Next, two wrongs don’t make a right, but “an eye for an eye” as the Bible says. Plus we are SUPPOSED to be a society of laws, right? And, as such, the Law (i.e. Police, Judges, lawyers, etc.) take care of the determination if a crime was comitted (investigation), determine who did the crime (trial - judges, lawyers, juries), and the punnishment for the crime(s) (things that are AGAINST THE LAW). If this society which follows the “rule of law” fails and the “rule of law” is allowed to be broken for one or some because of some judgement of “wrongness” of the law (instead of having the law changed), we descend into the state we are in now (where criminals get more consideration than those who have been wronged).
I, for one, believe in the death penalty. I also believe that someone sentenced to death should have all of 90 to 180 days *!AT MOST!* (from the date of sentencing to execution) to live. If we had a system that was that effecient, the death penalty would be a deterrant. As the system is now, there is no deterrance to it… what you get is “three hots and a cot” for the next 10, 20, 30 or more YEARS!!
My last thought…
“An eye for an eye!”
March 18th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
stuart, what, exactly would you like to do with people who commit murder (not manslaughter, MURDER)? I tell you what, you can build a prison cell in your basement and keep them there for “life”, how does that sound? Any one else that belives that an execution is murder, not punnishment can do the same.
I do not feel that way. I think that word “humane” is too good for a murderer, and the concept of making their death a “painless” one is just simply B.S.! Not to mention, a plain waste of money. A far, far simpler solution is to make a room out of stainless steel, shaped like a tub/shower with a lid on it, an automatic wash system, and a firearm with a bullet in it suspended with a remote trigger would be far less expensive, plus it can be reused (except the bullet of course) over, and over, and over, and over again, and again, and again. Awe, hell, you don’t even need the auto-wash system in it… Wouldn’t that be something to see (the look on the murderer’s face when they lead them into it and they see all that blood and brain matter splattered about)!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
everyone is has been discussing this philosophically, allow me to enter factually…127 people who were on deathrow have been released since 1973 due to the introduction of DNA evidence, and proven cases of police coercion leading to false testimony. So the question in reality is this “are you okay with killing a couple of innocent people to eliminate murderers?” if yes, you are an idiot, if no, you are dealing with the cards you were dealt as best you can and i applaud your pragmatism.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
WELL, TIME FOR SOME GOOD OLD DISAGREEMENT. FIRST, AND FOREMOST, I SUPPORT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT…TIT FOR TAT AND ALL THAT. SECONDLY, WHY KEEP FELONS ALIVE? THEY ARE A DRAIN ON SOCEITY THAT ARE EXPENDABLE, UNCURABLE. IF WE JUST EXECUTE THEM ALL, THEN WE DON’T NEED PRISONS. AND IF YOU GUYS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PAIN, AND PEOPLE WANT CAPITAL PUNIHSMENT; HOW ABOUT THESE APPLES: AFTER THE DEATH SENTENCE IS READ IN COURT, THE BAILIFF GOES UP TO THE DEFENDANT AND BLOWS HIS BRAINS OUT IN OPEN COURT: ALL CAPITAL PUNIHSMENT DUTIES ARE DULY FULFILLED UNDER THE LAW AND THE PRISONER EXPERIENCES NO PAIN WHATSOEVER. WIN IWN.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
LOVE SCOTT’S IDEA, TOO. EASY, EFFECTIVE, CHEAP, AND MOST OF ALL, REMOVES THE PROBLEM.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I think lethal injection has been the closest way to “humanely” killing a murderer. I keep an open-mind for both sides of the argument, but I have to say I still lean towards for the death penalty. The people who are on death row aren’t convicted of little crimes. I agree with Stephanie. I think the murdere should have done to them what they did to others. For all the religious people, the Bible says treat others how you would like to be treated. They murderer so they in return should be treated the same way as their victim was.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
They don’t sick a 6″ needle in your arm 3 times. It’s a tiny IV line they set up prior, and put the drug in through the line, and after the first one (it numbs your body) you dont feel shit…pretty painless considering the bastard probably raped and tortured some innocent girl and then suffocated her to death.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I have no problem executing the vilest of society, nor am I moved by cruelty arguments over the methodology. I however disagree to the “pecking” order of punishments. The punishment the shoe bomber received which is life in the Colorado Super Max I consider far more appropriate as a deterrent and more effective as punishment than an easy exit at the end of a needle. Although the conditions at this and similar prisons aren’t well publicized, maybe they should. Criminals often describe prison sentences as badges of honor but Super Max prisons are one way streets and most criminals have no knowledge of what a “life” sentence can truly mean. I would guess if given a choice, most prisoners would opt for the needle over Super Max and as such I believe the prison systems should overcome their fear of being labeled “cruel” but utilize promoting the reality of the facilities for the full impact as a deterrent. The plea agreements should be an easy quick death or a slow agonizing one lasting decades in a windowless box without ever seeing or hearing another human with all the comforts concrete can afford.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I don’t want to know about statisics. When it comes down to it its just morally and ethically wrong. The dealth penalty however it is administered is just crime creating crime. taking somebodys life for whatever reason is MURDER. As for the cost invloved, well that speaks for itself. DP is an easy way out. They deserve to rot in jail forever (not a hotel-like ones that seem to be apperaing today either).
May 5th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Well Heres my 2 cents. If you killed somebody eventually you may regret it. So If your put on death row and then you die your pretty much doing them a favor then they don’t have to wallow in their own guilt. They should be placed in a jail cell unlike the Hotel california ones you see where they get degrees and watch tv and whatnot. They should be stuck in a 2×2 cubicle to do nothing but think about what you did and why you will be there the rest of your damn life. Make the person so damn horrid that they would want to die rather than sit in that cell to think about what they have done.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Here is what I think: Many murders get away with twelve years in prison, but those kinds of cases usually have to do with moments of aggression; sudden acts of unplanned adrenaline rushes. The people, who are in serious capital cases, are in there for mass murders that were planned, or were just horrendous crimes. These people get placed in jail for life or are in jail without chance of probation. Some believe that these people can change in time. I don’t believe that. I believe most people that get booked for cases like this are unchangeable. The way I see it is; it is better to take the life of a convicted murderer than, risk the life’s of more innocent victims.
July 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Why don’t we just past a law where if you get caught breaking a robery, assult or murder law then the penalty is lethal injection, i bet the crime rate would go way down, forget about cruel and unusual punishment! Send them straight to God! If you don’t believe in God then well at least they won’t be around anymore.