U.S.: States Negligent in Use of Lethal Injections (New HRW report)

[Stockholm]

(New York, April 24, 2006) – Incompetence, negligence, and irresponsibility by U.S. states put condemned prisoners at needless risk of excruciating pain during lethal injection executions, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Lethal injections are used in 37 of the 38 death penalty states in the United States and by the federal government. Every execution in 2005 was by lethal injection.

The 65-page report, http://hrw.org/reports/2006/us0406/]">“So Long as They Die: Lethal Injections in the United States,” reveals the slipshod history of executions by lethal injection, using a protocol created three decades ago with no scientific research, nor modern adaptation, and still unchanged today. As the prisoner lies strapped to a gurney, a series of three drugs is injected into his vein by executioners hidden behind a wall. A massive dose of sodium thiopental, an anesthetic, is injected first, followed by pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes voluntary muscles, but leaves the prisoner fully conscious and able to experience pain. A third drug, potassium chloride, quickly causes cardiac arrest, but the drug is so painful that veterinarian guidelines prohibit its use unless a veterinarian first ensures that the pet to be put down is deeply unconscious. No such precaution is taken for prisoners being executed.

“The U.S. takes more care killing dogs than people,” said Jamie Fellner, U.S. program director at Human Rights Watch and co-author of the report. “Just because a prisoner may have killed without care or conscience does not mean that the state should follow suit.”

Human Rights Watch opposes capital punishment in all circumstances and calls for its abolition. But until the 38 death penalty states and the federal government abolish capital punishment, international human rights law requires them to ensure they have developed a method of execution that will reduce, to the greatest extent possible, the condemned prisoner’s risk of mental or physical pain and suffering.

more http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/04/24/usdom13241.htm

:grr: Fallibility of the Criminal Justice System, Racial Bias, Economic Bias, Geographic Bias, Mental Illness and the Death Penalty, International Human Rights Norms...

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/02/02/usdom12596.htm

[Kagemusha]

1. I speak with all due respect in saying this...

It is not my preference that the states improve their procedures by having a great deal more practice.

[Stockholm]

2. I don´t understand your comment?

I can´t see a reference to "learning by doing" anywhere in the report?

[Kagemusha]

3. The report says they don't support more executions to get it right.

Doesn't mean I can't make a comment simply to highlight the issue.

If it came off wrong, sorry.

[DELUSIONAL]

4. Thanks for posting this article

since these executions are being carried out in our name -- we need to educate ourselves on this tabu topic.

I had no idea that the three drug combination was first used 30 years ago --

So this is "faith based" execution?