The Supreme Court had decided to scrutinize the “three drug cocktail” currently being use by most states to conduct lethal injection. The chemical formula of sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride is under legal argument that it is unconstitutional because it can cause excruciating pain, and considered to be a malicious punishment, which violates the Eighth Amendment.
Opponents say sometimes the first given shot, sodium thiopental, an anesthetic, fails to put inmate into full unconsciousness to avoid pain. Followed by the second given shot, pancuronium bromide, which causes paralyzation, leaving the inmate suffered without the ability to struggle. With the third given shot, potassium chloride, to stop the heart which is usually painful.
Numerous of condemned convicts who have gone thru the process since lethal injection is a capital punishment. The given anesthetic shot that failed to render inmates complete unconsciousness during the executions however, was not considered a misconduct. Anesthetics are commonly used in the medical field with the patient’s acknowledgement before an operation. Understandably, sodium thiopental is very effective if it is being administered properly by qualified personnel. So the question should not be if the drugs administered to inmates were ineffective but whether the procedures were properly conducted? Has the Supreme Court missed the vein to the problem?
Court Stays Execution in
The New York Times - Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Baze V. Rees
Supreme Court file
