Oklahoma governor signs 'foolproof' nitrogen gas execution method

[lostinblue 1,989]

Oklahoma governor signs 'foolproof' nitrogen gas execution method

Oklahoma became the first US state to approve nitrogen gas for executions under a measure Governor Mary Fallin signed into law Friday that provides an alternative death penalty method if lethal injections aren’t possible, either because of a court ruling or a drug shortage.

Executions are on hold in Oklahoma while the US supreme court considers whether the state’s current three-drug method of lethal injection is constitutional. Supporters of the new law maintain nitrogen-induced hypoxia is a humane and painless method of execution that requires no medical expertise to perform.

“Oklahoma executes murderers whose crimes are especially heinous,” Fallin said in a statement announcing that she had signed the bill into law.

“I support that policy, and I believe capital punishment must be performed effectively and without cruelty. The bill I signed today gives the state of Oklahoma another death penalty option that meets that standard.”

The bill authored by Republican representative Mike Christian and Republican senator Anthony Sykes had passed the state House on an 85-10 vote and cleared the Senate on a 41-0 vote.

There are no reports of nitrogen gas ever being used to execute humans, and critics say that one concern is that the method is untested. Some states even ban its use to put animals to sleep.

But supporters of Oklahoma’s plan argue that nitrogen-induced hypoxia – or a lack of oxygen in the blood – is a humane execution method.

“The process is fast and painless,” said Christian, a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper who wrote the bill. “It’s foolproof.”

Opponents say there’s no way to know whether the method is painless and effective.

“It just hasn’t been tried, so we don’t know,” said Represenative Emily Virgin, a Democrat from Norman who opposes the death penalty.

The changes come after a botched execution last year in which Oklahoma was using a new sedative as the first in a three-drug combination. State officials tried to halt the lethal injection after the inmate writhed on the gurney and moaned. He died 43 minutes after the process began.

The problematic execution was blamed on a poorly placed intravenous line and prompted a lawsuit from Oklahoma death-row inmates, who argue that the state’s new drug combination presents a serious risk of pain and suffering. The US supreme court is scheduled to hear arguments later this month.

Under the new law, lethal injection would remain the state’s first choice for executions and nitrogen gas would be its first backup method – ahead of the electric chair, which the state hasn’t used since 1966, and a firing squad, which has never been used in Oklahoma.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/17/oklahoma-nitrogen-execution-method-death-penalty

According to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, in humans, “breathing an oxygen deficient atmosphere can have serious and immediate effects, including unconsciousness after only one or two breaths. The exposed person has no warning and cannot sense that the oxygen level is too low.” In the US, at least 80 people died due to accidental nitrogen asphyxiation between 1992 and 2002.^[3] Hazards with inert gases and the risks of asphyxiation are well-established.^[4]

An occasional cause of accidental death in humans, inert gas asphyxia with gases including helium, nitrogen, methane, and argon, has been used as a suicide method. Inert gas asphyxia has been advocated by proponents of euthanasia, using a gas-retaining plastic hood device colloquially referred to as a suicide bag. At least 109 persons committed suicide using helium inhalation, the most popular inert gas for this use, from 2001 to 2009, in Australia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inert_gas_asphyxiation

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't get the excitement about and focus on this medieval form of punishment. All civilized countries have abandoned it long ago. Just look at what ridiculous company the US keeps on this one.

Quite embarrassing, to be perfectly honest.