Lethal Injection Method Flawed?

The AP reports, that a study by the online journal PLoS Medicine, has concluded that the lethal injection methods used in U.S. executions sometimes fail to work as planned and can cause slow and painful deaths in violation of the Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. Even when administered properly, the process may end up with the victim suffocating to death while conscious.

This is fairly strong evidence that the eleven states that have suspended executions by lethal injection have good reason to be concerned.

One of the culprits appears to be the “one-size fits all” philosophy that everyone, regardless of size, weight and body composition receives the same dosages. You have got to be kidding me? Even I know that isn’t going to work!

The study concluded that some inmates did not get an adequate dosage of the anesthetic. Dr. Leonidas Koniaris, a surgeon and co-author at the University of Miami said that under such conditions “The person would feel either asphyxiation or the burning sensation associated with the potassium. The potassium would cause extreme discomfort, something like being put on fire."

Just freaking wonderful.

Needless to say, Death Penalty proponents criticized the report and complained that the conclusions were based upon scant scientific evidence. Hmmm, personally I think that’s a good thing. It would be horrible if we had lots and lots of executions to study now wouldn’t it?

Mike Rushford, president of Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Sacramento, an organization concerned with victim’s rights said "It's more like political science than medical science."

I don’t know about that. Evidence, even based upon a smaller sample than needed to reach a definitive conclusion, is still evidence, and shouldn’t be so cavalierly dismissed. If you have contradictory evidence Mike, present it.

Steve Stewart, a prosecuting attorney in Clark County, Indiana, was quoted as saying "It doesn't matter a whole lot to me that someone may have felt some pain before they were administered poison as a method of execution."

The question is the definition of “some pain.” Luckily Steve ol’ boy, the U.S. Constitution does care even if you don’t.

To be honest with you, if I could be absolutely positive someone was guilty, I probably wouldn’t care all that much either. As a matter of fact, it would probably be quite satisfying. Unfortunately the cost of the Death Penalty which is far too arbitrary, far too prone to error, far too costly and far too great a burden on the families of victims is far too great a price to pay for a fleeting whiff of satisfaction.