Facing a nationwide shortage of a lethal injection drug, Arizona has taken an unusual step that other death penalty states may soon follow: get their supplies from another country.
Such a move, experts say, raises questions about the effectiveness of the drug. But it also may further complicate executions in the 35 states that allow them, as inmates challenge the use of drugs not approved by federal inspectors for use in the U.S.
Arizona said Tuesday that it got its sodium thiopental from Britain, the first time a state has acknowledged obtaining the drug from outside the United States since the shortage began slowing executions in the spring.
“This drug came from a reputable place,” Arizona’s Chief Deputy Attorney General Tim Nelson said. “There’s all sorts of wild speculation that it came from a third-world country, and that’s not accurate.”
Cripes! A shortage of a lethal injection drug? This is nuts. And heaven forbid it come from China. It probably should come from China. They are the experts.
I’m assuming “only” physicians can inject lethal chemicals? Ha, ha. Pro’s and Con’s to everything that is done. Maybe one of the con’s when being granted a MONOPOLY to practice medicine.
No reason at all nurses shouldn’t be allowed to do this or even anybody who passes a 30 minute exam with an orange?
Hippocratic Oath? Surely the law that requires docs to kill people also expressly states that in such cases the Oath has not been violated?
Ha, ha. The law is an ass. Happy Trails.
Well it wouldn’t be an issue if we didn’t have executions.
But that would mean that the US would have to stop behaving like Jews and Muslims and accept the so-called christianity they claim their nation was founded under. Where eye for and eye was abolished.
Not saying of course that the US was/is or ever will be a christian nation (there are none on the entire globe). Just saying that if you believe the religious nutters they are.
Cursor_
# 31 bobbo, “I’m assuming “only” physicians can inject lethal chemicals?”
Ooops! I didn’t mean to imply that docs did the killing. Just that it’s not the AMA that stops them. Conversely, a few years ago the American Board of Anesthesiologists (ABA) DID say none of their members could participate and went so far as to decertify some members. The ABA is a different sort of monster than the AMA.
The ABA is a registering and certifying agency. After taking your training you must pass their tests to be certified. There is no LEGAL reason for an anesthesiologist to be certified but a hospital that hires uncertified gas passers will not be eligible for Medicare reimbursements and other perqs. So, in practice, you don’t work if you’re not certified. (Almost all medical specialties have a certifying agency – I am certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.)
I think this action by the ABA was spurred by, of all groups, Amnesty International.
At this time I can only think of about 10 states that have a doctor perform the actual injection. I believe, like the hooded hangman of old, they keep their identity secret.
In other states, the physician may insert the various tubes and needles or supervise paramedical staff who do it.
And the injection may be done by prison personnel or even volunteers. Some people say the doctor supervises the dosage but since the object is to deliver a massive overdose, well, you can fill in the rest of that question. And it doesn’t take a trained professional to push the button. The actual injection is automated.
The Hippocratic Oath is an affirmation of our vocation, it is not a legally binding contract. If it were, then you could make a case to imprison a lot of plastic surgeons. But that be a whole nuther topic!
Let’s bypass the whole cruel and unusual thing. Stick ’em into a Google robot car, get it up to 120 mph and run ’em into a bridge abutment. Happens every day, nobody walks away. And to keep the bleeding hearts happy, make sure their seatbelts are buckled.
Oh, did I mention the added benefit that Detroit will get to build replacements for the cars?
Animby==thanks. I think I used to know that but have forgotten. Interesting how things get connected together with those pesky unintended results.
Its rare when organizations actually maintain standards. Reminds me of the psychologists trying to keep their members from engaging in crafty prisoner interrogation programs.
Well, the Catholics could use you as a role model. SHOCKING the catholics don’t excommunicate all the politico’s who allow abortion, capital punishment and all that. No morals at all.
Why not just send them to a tea party rally, with a “Sara Palin Sucks” shirt on, and let the teabaggers have at it?
Industrial incinerators work great.
So do the great white sharks of of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Who cares? Let them rot in prison.
THE GUILLOTINE
Lethal injection has taught us,
We need A Proposal, Modest,
If you need someone dead,
Just cut off his head,
We should use the machine the French brought us.
High velocity lead injection. Cheap, efficient, and you can recycle the brass and lead.
Executions are illegal in Britain and aiding the termination of prisoners in foreign countries (e.g. The USA) is probably a crime in Britain.