Tennessee executes killer with controversial drugs that Sotomayor said could inflict torturous pain

The Washington Post ^ | August 10, 2018 | Deanna Paul

[KingofZion]

Tennessee executed Billy Ray Irick on Thursday night, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final request to stay his execution. Convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer, Irick is the state’s first inmate to be put to death since 2009. He was also the first to receive Tennessee’s controversial new three-drug cocktail.

Thursday’s lethal injection was made up of compounded midazolam, used to render a person unable to feel pain during an execution, a paralytic drug called vecuronium bromide, and compounded potassium chloride for the killing agent. Potassium chloride has been described by the Supreme Court as “chemically burning at the stake.”

In recent years, there have been numerous executions where witness accounts raised questions about whether the inmates were sufficiently anesthetized when the killing drugs were administered. These performances have raised questions about Midazolam’s effectiveness as a sedative in executions. Thursday’s application for a stay of execution followed a lower state court determination that the new combination of drugs may not be not chemically appropriate.

*** The request to delay was referred to the U.S. Supreme Court by Justice Elena Kagan. The only noted dissent was from Justice Sonia Sotomayor; the court’s order did not specify how the other justices would have voted. Irick’s is the first death-penalty case that’s come to the court since Justice Anthony M. Kennedy retired July 31, which left the court shorthanded.

“Although the Midazolam may temporarily render Irick unconscious, the onset of pain and suffocation will rouse him. And it may do so just as the paralysis sets in, too late for him to alert bystanders that his execution has gone horribly (if predictably) wrong,” wrote Sotomayor. The dissent echoes comments she made last year aimed at Midazolam in a case involving an Alabama inmate.

***MORE

[rktman]

Back surgery T-10, 11, L-1>S1 laminectomy, tossed pain meds after 4th day home. Neck surgery C-3>C-7 laminectomy and fusion they forgot to prescribe pain meds when I came home on Thursday. By the time we realized it we had to wait and by Monday I didn't want them anyway. Never had the puking issue. 😷🤕👍🏼

[Spacetrucker]

Oklahoma, Mississippi and one other use this method as primary now ... would like to see how it goes and how many states follow suit after proven effectiveness...

[Mr. Lucky]

The intense burning sensation was not experienced during his last moments on Earth, but during his first moments in eternity.

[oldtech]

I’ve never seen a hanging,but I doubt it is a pretty sight. However,it apparently brings things to an end quite quickly, efficiently & inexpensively & perhaps if it is done publicly might be a deterrent to others contemplating a similar crime & the resulting sentence. It may not eliminate criminal activity,but maybe it would decrease it.

[GailA]

BS. 33 YRS TO GET THIS CHILD RAPIST/KILLER TO EXECUTION 33 YRS. HE WAS GIVEN AN ANESTHESIA DRUG FIRST. H. YOU COULD JUST OD THEM ON IT, AND IT WILL EXECUTE THEM.

TENNESSEE HAS 2 MORE SCHEDULED LATER THIS YEAR. 1 HAS BEEN ON DR SINCE 81, KILLED 2 PEOPLE, THE OTHER BRUTALLY BEAT AN ELDERLY WOMAN TO DEATH WITH A POKER OF ITEM LIKE IT.

27 years on, Millington mother waits for execution of daughter’s killer
https://wreg.com/2018/08/09/27-years-on-millington-mother-waits-for-execution-of-daughters-killer/

Tennessee Carries Out Its 1st Execution in Nearly a Decade
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2018-08-09/tennessee-set-to-kill-1st-inmate-in-nearly-a-decade

“Death Row inmate” sends letter to WTVC, claims inmates are “pampered”
https://newschannel9.com/news/local/death-row-inmate-sends-letter-to-wtvc-claims-inmates-are-pampered

26 from Shelby co
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2018/08/09/tennessee-execution-inmates-scheduled-after-irick/937239002/

[PTBAA]

I keep hearing about fentanyl so potent that touching it will kill you. I assume it is a painless death, why can’t we use that?

[broken_arrow1]

I’m sure the pope is heartbroken.

[Mom MD]

I totally agree with that one. Unfortunately with epiglottitis or angioedema sometimes an awake intubation is needed

[BwanaNdege]

Hypoxia, Freezing to death, CO2 poisoning, a bullet to the Medula Oblongata or the Heart... Lots of ways to either painlessly die or quickly die or both.

It is not rocket science.

Or, if you want to display your admiration of those cultured French and the Enlightenment, bring back the guillotine.

[BraveMan]

I would prefer they used an industrial wood chipper, guiding the condemned in feet first. Done in seconds . . .