2006-06-15
Don't go to this guy ...
I was just reading an article, one of many out there in the last year or so, concerning the "humane" method of lethal injection(s) for capital punishment purposes.Now, let's just ignore all the other ramifications of capital punishment, because I am of mixed emotions about that subject.
But I do want to share with you some clips from THIS ARTICLE, which I find rather disturbing.
"... the state's Corrections Department director, said this week he should have been notified when a physician who assists in state executions prepared a lower-than-expected dose of anesthesia for the last several inmates who were put to death.
... (a few paragraphs not copied) ...
A surgeon who assists in Missouri executions testified in a deposition that he prepared 2.5 grams of thiopental, an anesthesia, instead of 5 grams because he believed it was enough, and packaging made the larger amount unwieldy.
Thiopental, the first of three drugs administered to a prisoner about to be executed, is supposed to render him unconscious so he doesn't feel the third drug which can cause a burning pain. A state witness at the hearing, Massachusetts anesthesiologist Mark Dershwitz, testified that some states use as little as 1.5 grams.
... (a few more paragraphs not copied) ...
The doctor, whose name was not made public in the court file, testified that he is dyslexic and that "it's not unusual for me to make mistakes."
The doctor testified he was not aware of any rules that required him to notify the corrections director about changes to the execution procedure -- which he said he believes is not written or recorded.
He said he was asked to assist Missouri executions after a problematic attempt in which the inmate took a long time to die. He recommended to a previous corrections director that infusing three drugs through a femoral (groin) intravenous catheter would be more effective, and that's what Missouri's used ever since. With it, he testified, there is "no risk, all benefit."
Later in the article it talks about why IV in the arm is just as effective and the femoral path was unduly painful ... but I'll let you read that part yourself.
WTF?
This is a doctor???
I WANT TO KNOW HIS NAME!!!!
Because I sure as hell don't want to go to him or have anyone I care about go to him!