Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 07:24:03 -0800
From: BobE
To: ABOLISH@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: Lethal Injection
Tom Block wrote:
>This "BIG LIE" of painless, peaceful, humane EXECUTION has to STOP.
>There is nothing humane, painless, or flawless about this
>medical procedure designed to destroy human life rather than save it!
Tom,
I disagree with you that lethal injection is painful. I do not think
that it is inhumane, although I believe that the death penalty IS.
I'm a registered respiratory therapist at a hospital. Over the course
of my 24 year career, I've taken care of some patients who were
intentionally paralyzed with pancuronium (Pavulon) for theraputic
reasons. They do not remember the experience (probably due to the
sedative which is given in conjunction with this drug. It does not
cause the lungs to 'collapse' but, rather, keeps muscles from
functioning, so no breathing takes place.
Thiopental is an anesthetic agent and, under its effect, a person can
have major surgery done without feeling or experiencing discomfort. If
KCL does cause pain, the anasthetic would mask the pain for the
recipient.
Thiopental is the 'gold standard' of injected anesthetic agents and has
been used in millions of surgical cases over the past 50 years.
Although I am not certain of the dosage used for execution, my guess is
that it is a whopping dose, one sufficient to cause anesthesia ('without
pain') of the deepest form.
I think that your fear of the execution method is without foundation,
although I know that your concern is genuine. I'd suggest that you keep
up your fight for human rights and against injustice but choose your
battles carefully.
I agree with you that the use of lethal injection has made this whole
death process much more palatable to the average citizen, and that is
bad. The fact that it is carried out in a painless way makes it no less
tragic or immoral.
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