Alabama to soon implement "Nitrogen Hypoxia" as a new way to Kill inmates

[MagaSmash]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/execution-alan-eugene-miller-nitrogen-hypoxia_n_63207a74e4b082746be395e8#comments


they can't give you proper healthcare; but boy they sure are innovative in finding new ways to kill you.

[liberal N proud]

1. They will be anti abortion and pro death

I a supreme example of hypocrisy, Many states implementing abortion bans also have death penalties.

[multigraincracker]

2. Is that laughing gas?

Might be fewer appeals.

[Harker]

7. Pure nitrogen causes asphyxiation.

Nitrous oxide is "laughing gas."

I'm pretty sure the executioners wouldn't want any giggling.

[hlthe2b]

8. No. Laughing gas is Nitrous Oxide. They will use Nitrogen gas with a mask to preclude oxygen

coming in, thereby allowing Nitrogen to replace oxygen in the body causing fatal hypoxia but supposedly (if 'successful' ) without the overt symptoms of asphyxia.

That doesn't mean they won't suffer and it is intensely unclear how they would avoid struggling to get the person to leave on the mask or hood or whatever contraption to effect the fatal administration. Such struggle would prolong or even defeat the attempt.

[mitch96]

13. "without the overt symptoms of asphyxia." If I remember correctly the terror of asphyxia is

not the lack of oxygen but the brain sensing the build up of carbon dioxide. Nitrogen lets the body exhale the carbon dioxide but replaces the oxygen with nitrogen. Death via lack of oxygen. Add a narcotic to "take the edge off" and I would assume it is a relatively painless way to go.. YMMV

m

[hlthe2b]

15. Not if condemned fights an oxygen-proof seal of a mask .

The point they are trying to address is to avoid IV catheterizations that have caused problems with some of the horrendous injectable drug protocols in the past including the horrendous OK attempt to use midazolam, a sedative; vecuronium bromide, a paralyzing drug, and potassium chloride, which stops the heart--only to find half those drugs painfully entered the tissues spaces from a bungled infiltrated catheter.

In theory, Nitrogen induced-anoxia would not need medical professionals, but it is also dangerous to those in the room should a leak develop. And a mask or hood for delivery would undoubtedly require some sedation and/or a secured head to ensure proper mask placement and maintenance.

Sedatives are notoriously variable in dose-related effects so drugs that also afford some restraint properties (e.g., ketamine, haloperidol). For a prisoner to be afforded their "last words" as a right of the condemned, heavy doses of diazepines, or opiates to assist with preventing struggle would be problematic.

Those who think this would be free of problems have never dealt with violent people, psych patients, or wildlife, for that matter. And the thought that this would be painless is naive' in real-world settings.

As one who is and always has been anti-death penalty, I would still hope that those making the decisions on this would be well informed by those who have the background and expertise. That said, those who would WANT to consult may well be the last ones society should WANT to do so. In many of these states, expediency that will minimally pass muster with the courts is their goal and a process more akin to compassionate euthanasia is decidedly not.

[mitch96]

17. "fights an oxygen-proof seal of a mask " That could be remedied with a gas chamber like

the ones used in California. uff I don't believe I'm saying that.
I agree with you the death penalty is not the solution.
m

[hlthe2b]

18. Yeah. Anyway you look at the issue it just becomes worse and worse.

[mitch96]

22. I don't know if you watched the vid posted on this thread but the last guy when asked how

he felt about using nitrogen as an end of life method he did not like it. Why?
He wanted the murderer to suffer for what he did...
m

[hlthe2b]

23. I hadn't watched it, but that does not surprise me.

[jmbar2]

3. Why don't they just give them an overdose of Fentanyl or Oxy?

We seem to have an endless supply of that stuff.

[LiberalArkie]

6. IV drip of morphine would be easy.

[sanatanadharma]

9. This! Easy, obvious, effective, and apparently drama-free

[hlthe2b]

11. Yes, but these sadists WANT them to suffer.

[canuckledragger]

4. If they spent as much time helping people as they did inventing ways to kill them...

...Maybe Alabama wouldn't be such a shithole.

[JT45242]

5. This may be the best option if the US is going to use the death penalty

https://www.documentarytube.com/videos/how-to-kill-a-human-being-2

This documentary by a British former member of Parliament explores the death penalty and suggested this as the most humane way available. I would highly recommend watching it. I've rewatched it maybe a half dozen time over the years.

Overdoses of fentanyl do not always work and may cause seizures. This was a fascinating watch when I saw it the first time and the response of the Bush DoJ official about using nitrogen hypoxia illustrates that the death penalty is clearly about vengeance and not justice.

[burrowowl]

10. K&R

[Chainfire]

12. What could be finer than death by suffocation.

Why not herd them in the back of a box truck with the exhaust piped inside. Do a dozen at the time.

[mitch96]

14. Sounds like what the nazi did in WW2 to kill people they thought "unworthy" ... uff

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_van

[Dysfunctional]

16. I am against the death penalty, but if it is going to be used, I would prefer this for me.

In 1994, at a non-VA hospital, I was given a shot of Demerol before an operation. I was in pre-op when I felt a tingling sensation in my feet. The sensation kept going up my legs and then my chest. When it reached my chest, I was breathing normally but I knew I was not getting oxygen. I asked the nurse to come over to me and explained what was happening. My heart stopped before the doctors could do whatever they were going to do for me. At no time was I fearful, having anxiety even though that is my VA disability, nor was I in any pain. I passed out and I don't know for how long. They finally got my heart restarted and this episode did not cause me any physical or mental problems.

[Warpy]

19. Lethal injection could have been made more humane

with a single drug overdose but the DP states are bloody minded enough that they wanted to make sure the person they were murdering wouldn't have a nanosecond of "whee!" before s/he died. Paralytics and potassium made it horrific if they futzed around long enough for the Versed to wear off, and they usually did just that.

The best idea is to stop murdering your own citizens in the name of the state.

The man who murdered my family member died of natural causes in prison. Even at 16, I didn't want him to get the DP, it would have made a horrible situation even worse to have two murders instead of one. I just wanted him someplace he couldn't do it again.

[Pmc1962]

21. God forbid the condemned should feel a slight bit of euphoria as they die

You can give opioids and benzodiazepines im, subq or iv.

No iv access, not an issue.

I am also against the death penalty but a massive dose of fentanyl and Valium, im if no iv, with repeat as needed, should result in a peaceful and painless death. This is obvious.

But, the fact that it’s not painful and even more cruel makes it a no-go.

[Simeon Salus]

20. It's really cheap, and no drug companies to deal with

You can fill a ten liter dewar with liquid N2 at your local Airgas for less than $50. Accidentally spill that dewar in your room with windows closed and you'd be unconscious a minute after your first breath and dead in a few more. And unlike breathing CO2, your body might not even notice any change in air quality.

Just to remind folks: