Oklahoma governor signs 'foolproof' nitrogen gas execution method

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Oklahoma became the first US state to approve nitrogen gas for executions under a measure Governor Mary Fallin signed into law Friday that provides an alternative death penalty method if lethal injections aren’t possible, either because of a court ruling or a drug shortage.

Executions are on hold in Oklahoma while the US supreme court considers whether the state’s current three-drug method of lethal injection is constitutional. Supporters of the new law maintain nitrogen-induced hypoxia is a humane and painless method of execution that requires no medical expertise to perform.

“Oklahoma executes murderers whose crimes are especially heinous,” Fallin said in a statement announcing that she had signed the bill into law.

“I support that policy, and I believe capital punishment must be performed effectively and without cruelty. The bill I signed today gives the state of Oklahoma another death penalty option that meets that standard.”

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/17/oklahoma-nitrogen-execution-method-death-penalty

---

Associated Press in Oklahoma City
Saturday 18 April 2015 00.06 BST

[slumcamper]

1. Disguting. Grotesque. Sick. Evil.WTF. FFS. N/T.

[Major Nikon]

2. "humane execution" is an oxymoron

[mike_c]

3. I oppose the DP under any circumstances...

...but there is every indication that nitrogen hypoxia is about as humane as it gets, combined with sedation. This would be my personal choice of suicides if I needed to deliberately end my own suffering.

I will always oppose the DP, but if we cannot prevent the state from killing people we should at least insist that they die humanely and with dignity.

[eggplant]

23. I agree completely.

I am 100% opposed to the death penalty. But I also 100% support death with dignity, and the advocacy groups say that Nitrogen Hypoxia is one of the most painless, least stressful way to go.

If I can't stop the state from killing people, then I want them to be as humane as possible.

[Archae]

4. As long as there are fools who want blood anytime a heinous crime occurs...

"Foolproof" my ass.

[procon]

5. He sounds so proud and actually sees this as a laudable accomplishment. nt

[Jerry442]

6. Disgusting. No respect for tradition.

You're supposed to use Zyklon B.

[COLGATE4]

17. Unfortunate- and distasteful

comparison.

[n2doc]

7. Suffocation, pure and simple.

They can try and use other words but this is no different than holding a pillow over a persons face until they suffocate and die. Painless my ass. Is drowning painless? How about putting a person's head on a garbage bad and taping it shut until they die gasping, is that painless?

[enki23]

9. I'd choose N2 over CO2, or blocked airway any day.

.

[n2doc]

10. Based on experience? n/t

[enki23]

39. Yes. Other people's.

[Thor_MN]

11. I'm opposed to the DP, but you are unequivocally wrong on your assertions.

The buildup of CO2 is what makes all the things you bring up painful. A roomful of N2 doesn't allow CO2 to build up in the lungs. Doesn't make the DP correct, but your comparisons are flawed.

I'm actually quite surprised to read your post, as I see you posting often in Science.

[DeSwiss]

33. People who post in Science don't make mistakes?

- Gee, I didn't know there was perfection anywhere on DU. I better stay out of there.

[Thor_MN]

37. Wow, maybe milk instead of urine on your cheerios?

I respect n2doc.

Have a better day.

[jmowreader]

15. It is a lot different

Humans breathe nitrogen all the time, so the body has no mechanism to detect its presence in the atmosphere. People who die from nitrogen - many industrial accidents have happened when workers were exposed to excess nitrogen, and a lot of the people who were in those accidents died - go painlessly and EXTREMELY quickly, without knowing they're in trouble until it's too late.

The real problem with nitrogen execution is that it's the perfect way to execute someone - it's cheap, it is easy to get everything you need, it doesn't look brutal like a shooting or hanging does, no special training is needed for the execution team, the guest of honor really does just fall asleep and never wakes up, and if you can get the concentration of N2 in the room air over 90 percent it is 100 percent reliable. If anything it will expand the use of execution in this country - which is the worst thing that could happen.

[lbrtbell]

31. Nitrogen hypoxia IS painless

You need to become informed before getting hysterical. Here's a video of an experiment that was done, administering nitrogen gas to a man and monitoring the results.

As you can see, he became somewhat confused, but he was actually giddy at times. If you watch this video, you'll see the truth about the effects of nitrogen gas.

Afterward, the man is asked if it was painful, and he replies emphatically, "No!" He added that he thought the experiment had been a failure, because he didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

In fact, another man had to intervene and put the oxygen mask back on this guy's face, because he simply didn't care when they told him he was dying and he needed to switch on the oxygen right away.

See for yourself:

So, yes, it is VERY different from holding a pillow over a persons face until they suffocate and die, or taping a garbage bag over someone's head.

If only we could convince murderers to kill their victims this way, instead of worrying so much about their comfort and not caring one iota about the people who were strangled, stabbed, shot, poisoned....

[muriel_volestrangler]

32. I was going to post that - part of a BBC programme that has influenced the Oklahoma decision

The man is Michael Portillo, former Conservative MP and cabinet minister in the 80s and 90s. They used him to present the programme because he's now a TV presenter, and as an MP had voted both for and against the death penalty (he became against because of miscarriages of justice - he's OK with the principle of execution if guilt is certain):

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2008/jan/14/howtokillhumanely

This says legislators had it in mind: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11495658/Michael-Portillo-inspires-Oklahoma-to-consider-execution-by-nitrogen.html

The film also had footage of a test in which a pig fell unconscious as the oxygen level dropped; then it was increased, the pig came around, and didn't show any signs of distress.

Also in the film was someone in charge of executions in a US state; when Portillo put the idea of hypoxia to him, he just said "who cares if they suffer? They're murderers".

[NutmegYankee]

36. The difference is the methods you mention don't allow CO2 exchange with the air.

The buildup of CO2 In the blood causes the "air hunger" distress. Death by N2 has been an industrial hazard in confined spaces precisely because the victim is usually completely unaware that they are not getting oxygen. Everything is normal, and then they just pass out.

[mike_c]

43. hypoxia isn't necessarily suffocation....

Nitrogen hypoxia circumvents the panic reaction by allowing the lungs to fill normally and to clear CO₂ from the blood normally. As I said up thread, sedation followed by nitrogen hypoxia would be my own personal choice of suicide methods if necessary. It's calm and painless. I oppose the death penalty, but I don't doubt that sedation/N₂ hypoxia is way more humane than anything else currently in use. It certainly is NOT "holding a pillow over a persons face until they suffocate and die."

[valerief]

8. Oklahoma. That's where all those "pro-life" folks live. Well, they're more "pre-life." nt

[V0ltairesGh0st]

18. I truly hate living in this state.

if that says anything for me....

[valerief]

21. I sooooo sympathize with rational people who live in these oppressive states. nt

[onehandle]

12. Fallin is an inhuman monster. nt

[christx30]

13. What is this obsession with killing murderers?

I've never understood it. I get angry about those that kill, especially if the victim is a child. I read a story a few years ago about a guy that called his wife and made her listen as he bashed his kids to death with a hammer. There is a part of me that wanted the DP for him. But I'd rather just put him in a cell by himself until the day he dies on his own. Someone like that can't ever be fixed and not be a threat to society ever again. Just warehouse him until he expires, and put him in a pauper's grave.

[MannyGoldstein]

14. I'm totally against the death penalty.

It's sick stuff.

That being said, I've heard it said by euthanasia experts that nitrogen gas is the best way to go. One loses consciousness within moments, no panic from CO2 buildup, peaceful death. I know that people working with inert gases have suddenly passed out before they knew anything was wrong.

(Sorry if I got The Swarm's hopes' up: no, I did not research euthanasia for myself. )

[V0ltairesGh0st]

28. the death penatly teaches no lesson

...given time to think ... to realize... then fight the reality of their own atrocities .. to then either accept or deny it .... after years or decades of wrestling with the circumstances....in their own minds.... True punishment is not death... but living with the reality of their own choices.

[Alkene]

16. The guillotine was invented to provide a humane form of execution.

It also requires no medical expertise to perform. Certainty as to whether it is a painless method of execution remains problematic.

[EL34x4]

20. I can't imagine death by guillotine would be painful.

Nerves are severed in a split second. Compare this to the gas chamber, hanging, firing squad or electric chair where it can take several minutes to die. I don't know enough about lethal injections but there are many accounts of the condemned suffering, his body fighting to stay alive.

I believe the guillotine was relegated to history because it was messy and appeared inhumane, not because it actually was.

[Alkene]

24. I was attempting dry humor.

And oblique commentary on the absurdity of a humane form of execution.

Perhaps I should quit while I'm ahead.

[EL34x4]

27. No worries.

Personally, I'm conflicted on the issue myself. Certainly, there are people in prison who should never breathe the air of freedom again. And when you read of the crimes they committed, the thirst for vengeance is strong.

Yet, taking the position that "we need to punish you so much that we are going to incarcerate you for 20+ years and then find the most humane way to put you to sleep" is completely absurd.

[longship]

19. More humane than the head ripping off machine?

(Of course, it's The Onion.)

My position is that the death penalty is always wrong.

[Judi Lynn]

35. Excellent report. Thanks! n/t

[Demeter]

22. William Shenk Gilbert said it best (from the Mikado) on Execution by Suffocation

Yum. Darling – I don’t want to appear selfish, and I love you with all my heart – I don’t suppose I shall ever love anybody else half as much – but when I agreed to marry you – my own – I had no idea – pet – that I should have to be buried alive in a month!

Nank. Nor I! It’s the very first I’ve heard of it!

Yum. It – makes a difference, doesn’t it?

Nank. It does make a difference, of course.

Yum. You see – burial alive – it’s such a stuffy death!

Nank. I call it a beast of a death.

Yum. You see my difficulty, don’t you?

[truthisfreedom]

25. If the federal government is going to allow execution by nitrogen

Then they'd better allow assisted suicide by nitrogen. It's a type of suffocation that induces no fear. Carbon dioxide buildup makes you panicky. Nitrogen is 80% of the atmosphere and our lungs don't fear it at all.

[smirkymonkey]

42. +1000

[truthisfreedom]

25. double post

[SoapBox]

29. Hypoxia is not pretty.

I saw an old b&w film of a woman in a chamber where the O2 was "thinned"...it was funny when she was smearing lipstick all over her face as she didn't know what she was doing (the euphoria) BUT when she started to pass out, the seizures were unpleasant to watch.

My Mom last fall was not getting enough oxygen (heart issue) and went into full body throws...it was terrifying. Turned out she was suffering from"hypoxia".

This is suffocating people...you first Gov. to try it out.

[George II]

30. If only we could spend as much time and money to cure diseases as we do to kill people.

[Judi Lynn]

34. What would happen if something went wrong, and they couldn't kill a prisoner?

That would break the governor's heart.

It's time the country got back on the road to evolving beyond barbarism. We almost made it once before the right-wing started clawing, cheating, stealing, and lying its way to power.

[dbackjon]

38. Blood-thirsty Christians

[Dont call me Shirley]

40. Fallon should have no problem accepting war criminals into the new chambers then. Amirite?

[imthevicar]

41. Their has always been ONE BIG problem.

We do not have the perfect Justice system, We cannot have the perfect solution. to many Innocent on the line. as long as we have cops who lie, prosecutors who hold back evidence, and defense lawyers who are incompetent or ready to sell out their clients, this cannot go on.

[tabasco]

44. My beliefs on capital punishment have evolved

I have come to believe that capital punishment is wrong for the following reasons:

1. The power of the state is given to elected politicians, judges, prosecutors, etc., who are quite often imbeciles. The power of life and death cannot be trusted with imbeciles.

2. Our society must strive for a condition in which all intentional killing is absolutely avoided.