Judges Set Hurdles for Lethal Injection - suggesting prisoners endure agonizing executions

The New York Times ^ | April 12, 2006 | ADAM LIPTAK

[Former Military Chick]

Judges in several states have started to put up potentially insurmountable roadblocks to the use of lethal injections to execute condemned inmates.

Their decisions are based on new evidence suggesting that prisoners have endured agonizing executions. In response, judges are insisting that doctors take an active role in supervising executions, even though the American Medical Association's code of ethics prohibits that.

A federal judge in North Carolina, for instance, ordered state officials there to find medical personnel by noon today to supervise an execution scheduled for next week. Otherwise, the judge said, he will impose a stay of execution.

"This, of course, will make lethal injections difficult, if not impossible, to perform," said Dr. Jonathan I. Groner, a professor of surgery at Ohio State University who has studied lethal injections and opposes the death penalty.

A California judge plans to hold hearings on the issue next month, after an execution there was called off for lack of doctors, and the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments this month on whether death row inmates may use a civil rights law to challenge lethal injections as cruel and unusual punishment.

Scores of similar suits, asserting that lethal-injection procedures are illogical and potentially torturous, are pending around the nation. But, until recently, they had met with limited success, said Jamie Fellner, the director of the United States programs for Human Rights Watch, which will issue a report on lethal injections this month.

"When prisoners first started making these challenges," Ms. Fellner said, "the courts gave them short shrift. They thought these were stalling tactics. And there was not a lot of evidence."

[Former Military Chick]

What about the pain the victim's go through. I do find it interesting that their decision's are based on witnesses accounts, after-death blood testing and execution documentation's that seem to show that executions aren't humane and frankly support the anti death penalty crowd who seem to think prisoner's suffer excruciating pain.

[Former Military Chick]

DP PING

[A.Hun]

Ok...lets just shoot them like we should have been doing all along.

It only hurts for a second.

[noobiangod]

How about death by sodomy instead then? a liberal klinton appointee should be all for sodomy.

[dirtboy]

Well, let's just go back to shooting them. That way, instead of a doctor in attendance, we can just send a Game Warden.

[Edgerunner]

They need to suffer much more! I suggest we eliminate the first stage of the injection sequence...

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Engineers from Martin Marietta inadvertently tested what turns out to be the best method of humanely killing humans: suffocate them in nitrogen. Two engineers dies this way while inspecting a shuttle fuel tank before the nitrogen was flushed out. No sensation of suffocation and internal organs are fine for transplant. Coddling killers and reaping organs for transplant - who could ask for anything more?!

[upchuck]

How 'bout a 9 mil to the head? Nothing agonizing about that. Instantaneous!

[ElPatriota]

new evidence suggesting that prisoners have endured agonizing executions. In response, judges..

Oh, you are just teasing me!... you want me to happy for nothing, right? :)

[BibChr]

Wait wait wait. Seriously:

• The AMA's "code of ethics" prohibits humanely executing convicted murderers, BUT...
• It's OK with horrendously butchering living, innocent babies?

That's beyond nuts. Total Scrappleface fodder.Dan
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[absolootezer0]

i'd rather see them hanged.

[gondramB]

I dont understand why they can't add enough pain killer to make sure they are not in pain.

[infidel29]

Honestly, who gives a flying f..... if some degenerate murderer feels some discomfort on their way to meet their maker.

A bullet in the right spot does the job quickly and, with the right equipment, quietly. I imagine it doesn't hurt too much either.

Personally speaking, I don't much care for the "no cruel and unusual punishment" part of the constitution in certain situations. I think capital punishment by man-eating shark isn't totally uncalled for in some cases.

[blue-duncan]

"The AMA's "code of ethics" prohibits humanely executing convicted murderers,
BUT...It's OK with horrendously butchering living, innocent babies?"

And don't forget it's OK to assist in suicide and to help the helpless and aged over to the other side.

[Jaysun]

Aside from the fact that this is absolutely absurd and the judge is out of line - how do they know death by lethal injection causes agonizing pain? Have they resurrected someone?

[HungarianGypsy]

Fine then. Let's just bring back hanging. Or why not the guillotine. It was supposed to be the most humane execution method.

[Busywhiskers]

Interesting the the Docs have a problem with helping to humanely dispatch condemned criminals but have no problem with sucking the brains out of a nearly born baby.

[theDentist]

"Doctor doctor. The inmate is grimacing."
"I'll add more sedative."
"He looks the same. Did you really give him more painkiller?"
"Who knows. I'm not really a doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night."
"Good enough for me!"
"Thanks Warden!"

[dfwgator]

Let's bring back the electric chair, and don't even dampen the sponge for the top of the head.

Anyone who saw "The Green Mile" will know of what I speak.

[Unicorn]

Hell with it just hang them & put it on TV.