Executions by Lethal Injection May Not Be Humane

[BarTopDancer]

Here (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/hsn/20050414/hl_hsn/usexecutionsbylethalinjectionmaynotbehumane) is the story.

Lethal injection involves sequential administration of sodium thiopental for anesthesia, pancuronium bromide to induce paralysis, and then potassium chloride to stop the heart and cause death. If anesthesia wasn't used, the condemned prisoner would suffocate and experience excruciating pain without being able to move.

I'm not sure how I feel about the death penalty in general; however it baffles me why we're so concerned that murders, who probably didn't care about the pain and fear their victims felt have a painless death.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Well, I read this somewhere once...

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

[Nephythys]

Throwing the Constitution at us does no good....

Cutting off ears as punishment was not considered cruel and unusual by Constituional law- does it make right? No, but it does not make it UN-Constitutional.

[Ghoulish Delight]

She asked why it's a concern. It's a concern because of that ammendment. It is the only answer to her question.

[Prudence]

The Constitution is not a static document. Slavery was once constitutional. Limiting voting rights to free, white, male landowners was once constitutional. The eighth amendment may not be interpreted today the same way it was in 1791. I hardly think that renders the Constitution worthless.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ugh. Yet another issue where it's all about the visuals.

It's been maintained for a long time that the guilloutine is among the most humane of killings because it's basically instantaneous. But since chopping off someone's head seems so grody, we need to inject them with chemicals so we can't see the death happening. Lordy.

I'm still undecided on the death penalty, but I believe this: If we are going to kill people, let's at least do it quickly.

[Not Afraid]

YEAH! Bring back the guilloutine!

This sentence sort of make this issue moot:

If anesthesia wasn't used, the condemned prisoner would suffocate and experience excruciating pain without being able to move.

But anesthesia IS used, so what's the point?

[Baileykat]

Glad you posted this BTD!


I'm sorry...I always think the punishment should fit the crime! You kill someone in cold, heartless murder...you don't deserve to have the protection of the Constitution in regards to your death! Did your victim have a "nice, painless, death"? And often times, I think death is too easy! Prison is too easy! Suffering is not! Your victim suffered, you need to suffer as well!

Bring back public stoneings and hanging! :evil:

No this is not a Pro-Death Penalty rant (ok maybe a little!)..it just kinda rubbed me the wrong way to read that in the paper this morning... :(

[Ghoulish Delight]

But anesthesia IS used, so what's the point?The point is that some evidence is showing that anesthesia has not been used properly.

[Not Afraid]

The point is that some evidence is showing that anesthesia has not been used properly.

Well, then, the "death Eaters" need to be re-trained.

[Prudence]

RE: punishment fitting crime

While we as individual citizens may feel vindictive, I think the system needs to remain objective. If society supports the death penalty, whether for retribution/deterrence/insert favorite punishment theory here, then it should be applied in an appropriately clinical, emotionally-detached fashion. It needs to come from the impersonal system, on behalf of its citizens, rather than applied by individuals acting from their own emotions. To do otherwise is to cross the boundary from punishment to cruelty.

[Boss Radio]

It is only a matter of time before we see the death penalty packaged as the ultimate televised entertainment. We already devour countless hours of sensationalized trials, complete with celebrity lawyers playing the cameras like preening rock stars, and endless play by play commentary from the 24 hour spectator-sport newscasters - yet the true climax to the story is postponed, appealed, and finally, done in secret.

I believe the ultimate in audience participation would be to do a reality show where the viewers vote a la American Idol, and narrow down an All-Star death row until they select the baddest criminal in America. Once voting is completed and a winner is selected, the studio audience gets to hit the switch that activates the electric chair, shark tank, firing squad, etc.

The revenue stream from advertising might just tip the deficit back a few years.

And it would be fun to watch.

Not Disney, though. Too edgy.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

The death penalty used to be a public event. It wouldn't be a new thing for groups of people to use public bloodlust to their advantage, that's for sure.

[Mousey Girl]

That is one reality show I won't be watching.

[~MS~]

I'll be sitting on the couch next to you MouseyGirl!