Ohio's execution drug in short supply

[The Straight Story]

Ohio's execution drug in short supply


COLUMBUS -- A worldwide shortage of an anesthetic used in lethal injections almost kept Ohio from proceeding with an execution scheduled for Thursday.

An attorney for the state warned a federal judge last week and again yesterday that the prisons department might not be able to find enough thiopental sodium for the execution.

Charles Wille, principal assistant attorney general, told U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost later yesterday that the prisons department was eventually able to get the proper supply.

At issue was having a full amount of the anesthetic, which includes extra doses beyond what would be needed to put condemned inmate Michael Beuke to death.

Prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn tells the Associated Press she doesn't think the shortage will affect other upcoming executions.

Meanwhile, a federal judge today rejected Beuke's request to halt his execution because his tolerance to a lethal injection drug could complicate the procedure.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/05/11/ohio-execution-drug-short-supply.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

[Motown_Johnny]

1. I would give the condemned man the opportunity to choose sleeping pills and a bottle of Jack

but I suppose that is just me

[SoCalDem]

2. Just call a race track vet.

they seem to always have drugs around that will painlessly euthanize a horse...surely they could put a man to sleep..

side note: yesterday I had to have my 18 yr old cat euthanized, and it was excrutiatingly easy.. a simple catheter in her scrawny little leg, a few ear rubs & a last gaze at her sweet little face and one injection later she was at peace....and I was too, to not have to watch her continue to waste away.


there IS a way to execute people without "the show".. it's just that "the show" is there for the victims & the lawyers & the politicians..

[MrSlayer]

3. Rope is cheap and plentiful

Bullets are also relatively cheap. A good axe could be had a low price. You see where I'm going with this.

[PinkFloyd]

4. How about pure nitrous oxide?

I would think pure Nitrous (N2O), would be a humane way to go. It's an anesthetic, so the side effects before you pass out and die would be euphoria, drowsiness and hallucinations. Basically you get really high and then it's lights out for good.

[dsn]

8. I've heard they're considering nitrogen as an execution agent

Nitrogen is a "simple asphyxiant" so the plan is to stick the prisoner in a room and replace the air with pure nitrogen. Nitrogen is supposed to be in air so the body doesn't notice anything different--the prisoner just falls asleep and dies. They got the idea from people who died in industrial accidents by entering confined spaces with nitrogen-heavy atmospheres.

[foxfeet]

5. Cincinnati chili ought to do it.

[Nye Bevan]

6. The best method of execution is also the slowest.

Life without parole. It can take 50 or 60 years, but eventually it works.

And there's no drama. No midnight Supreme Court hearings. No vigils. No last meals. No interventions by the Pope. Just let the criminal rot slowly to think about what they did.

[Duer 157099]

7. I thought Nembutal was the death drug n/t