Lethal Injection for Execution: Chemical Asphyxiation?

[Skybird]

The flawed logic of understanding the killing of a man as a penalty, while a penalty in modern understanding is not to rebalance a cosmic scales by a principle of "an eye for an eye", but is understood as a sanction by which the behavior of the deliquent is to be influenced and changed (for which it is a precondition that he continues to live), would be a topic for itself. Also where longterm jail sentence fit into this description.

However, let's ignore that debate. This is the story:

http://medicine.plosjournals.org/per...l.pmed.0040156

We were able to analyze only a limited number of executions. However, our findings suggest that current lethal injection protocols may not reliably effect death through the mechanisms intended, indicating a failure of design and implementation. If thiopental and potassium chloride fail to cause anesthesia and cardiac arrest, potentially aware inmates could die through pancuronium-induced asphyxiation. Thus the conventional view of lethal injection leading to an invariably peaceful and painless death is questionable.

Now what the the eigth amendment has to say on cruel punishment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_...s_Constitution

In Furman v. Georgia (1972), Justice Brennan wrote, "There are, then, four principles by which we may determine whether a particular punishment is 'cruel and unusual'."

• The "essential predicate" is "that a punishment must not by its severity be degrading to human dignity," especially torture.
• "A severe punishment that is obviously inflicted in wholly arbitrary fashion."
• "A severe punishment that is clearly and totally rejected throughout society."
• "A severe punishment that is patently unnecessary."

Continuing, he wrote that he expected that no state would pass a law obviously violating any one of these principles, so court decisions regarding the Eighth Amendment would involve a "cumulative" analysis of the implication of each of the four principles.

[Dowly]

Just bring back the 'chair', will do the job. (And no, it's not inhumane, the murderer had the change to whether to kill or dont. He/she made the choice, now bear the results.)

[SUBMAN1]

Deterrence is not flawed logic. It very well could have influenced your hell thread earlier in that the perpetrators thought their may be consequences for their actions. Right now, they know if they get caught, not much will happen to them. If the threat of the chair exists, maybe they would have changed their minds.

And you wonder why we have crimes like this today in society. All the positive crap the phych guys dish out is garbage.

-S

PS. The thought of death is a much worse thing in my mind than worry about sitting in jail for the rest of my life. No one can ever tell me any different. Its a natural instinct to want to do everything possible to avoid it. I can can guarantee that they think the same way.

[Tchocky]

This deterrent effect doesnt seem to be there click

Topic : If chem injection is as nasty as it seems, then there should be an alternative. If you're already going to kill the guy, at least let him go out quiet. I was under the impression that criminal justice wasn't about causing physical pain to the guilty. That should hold up even under capital punishment

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

This deterrent effect doesnt seem to be there click

Topic : If chem injection is as nasty as it seems, then there should be an alternative. If you're already going to kill the guy, at least let him go out quiet. I was under the impression that criminal justice wasn't about causing physical pain to the guilty. That should hold up even under capital punishment

Oh but it is! As it should be. My one big gripe - every last bit of evidence up until the day of execution must be looked at by the courts to help avoid a mistake. DNA evidence for example. I hate the idea of excuting an innocent man, but thing its a very good idea to execute someone who commited a horrendous crime.

-S

[Tchocky]

Any backup for that? The deterrent effect, that is.

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

PS. The thought of death is a much worse thing in my mind than worry about sitting in jail for the rest of my life. No one can ever tell me any different. Its a natural instinct to want to do everything possible to avoid it. I can can guarantee that they think the same way.

I'll have to disagree somewhat. There are enough stories going around that more then a few lifers preferred death to being locked in an 8x10 for the rest of their lives. And no, I'm not going to hunt links. Without experiencing either I think I would prefer death to an existence in an 8x10 and that is why in a lot of cases I am against the death penalty because it gives the criminal an easy way out and an 8x10 is a long slow death. However if it comes down to me thinking death I would prefer an execution as like they did their victim but it would have to be overwhelming evidence and not a reasonable doubt type decision. An eye for an eye and a fist for a fist.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

I'll have to disagree somewhat. There are enough stories going around that more then a few lifers preferred death to being locked in an 8x10 for the rest of their lives. And no, I'm not going to hunt links. Without experiencing either I think I would prefer death to an existence in an 8x10 and that is why in a lot of cases I am against the death penalty because it gives the criminal an easy way out and an 8x10 is a long slow death. However if it comes down to me thinking death I would prefer an execution as like they did their victim but it would have to be overwhelming evidence and not a reasonable doubt type decision. An eye for an eye and a fist for a fist.

You are right I am sure in that a couple of them felt so terrible that death was what they wanted, but I doubt that is the majority. Most of them file appeal after appeal to prlong their life that it is pathetic. That one Chinese guy who is tottally toying with the courts to prolong his execution date comes to mind.

-S

[Heibges]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

You are right I am sure in that a couple of them felt so terrible that death was what they wanted, but I doubt that is the majority. Most of them file appeal after appeal to prlong their life that it is pathetic. That one Chinese guy who is tottally toying with the courts to prolong his execution date comes to mind.

-S

Charles Ng

He and his buddy Leonard Lake (and Lake's ex-wife) did some evil stuff.

He was arrested at a Hardware Store right next to where I was selling office supplies in South San Francisco.