OK governor signs bill allowing nitrogen inert gas execution

Nova said:

K_Z, with respect, I think it's more important what YOU think, since you are the expert in the field.

As for myself, if we must kill people (sorry, couldn't resist), then I think we should do so as painlessly as possible. If inert gas does the trick, then so be it.

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Why Oklahoma is using nitrogen gas as a backup to lethal injections

The gas will be applied through a mask or medical-grade oxygen tent worn around the prisoner's face, according to the Atlantic's Jack Shuler. It's expected the gas will kill a prisoner within minutes.

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He says nitrogen-induced hypoxia is well-researched, although the ideal delivery system for an execution has not yet been established. Two ideas include a medical-grade oxygen tent around the head or a facemask similar to those used by firefighters.

The condemned person might not even know when the “the switch to pure nitrogen occurs, instead he would simply lose consciousness about fifteen seconds after the switch was made,” he added. “Approximately thirty seconds later, he would stop producing brain waves, and the heart would stop beating about two to three minutes after that.”

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But nitrogen hypoxia would likely not produce the gruesome deaths that resulted from cyanide gas executions. Copeland says that “you don’t have to worry about someone reacting differently.” The condemned person would feel slightly intoxicated before losing consciousness and ultimately dying.

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If the bill becomes law and Oklahoma successfully executes someone using this method, it could spread from to state very quickly, Dieter says. Older methods like firing squads are a little too brutal for the American public, but something new could be accepted. If so, he says, “it could lead to an awkward spurt of executions.”

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Despite the unanswered questions, more states appear to be considering nitrogen as they plan for a future without lethal injection. Copeland says he has been in touch with corrections officials in several states, some of which he says are “ahead of us in terms of protocol.” Copeland would not disclose the states.

Oklahoma Sen. Anthony Sykes, who sponsored the nitrogen bill in the state Senate, says Louisiana and Texas have both shown interest in the method. Louisiana Department of Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc told a legislative committee last year that “nitrogen is the next big thing” and described it as a “painless way to go.” In February, the state’s corrections department issued a report recommending nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative method of execution.

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K_Z said:

First, I'll disclose that I support capital punishment.

I also abhor incompetence, and what we have seen recently with some of the more "prolonged" executions is incompetence at a high level with the medical aspects and monitoring of the condemned that have lead to infiltrated IV lines, multiple attempts at IV access, inadequate monitoring of the inmate, and generally very poor decision making when things don’t go smoothly. That is a fixable set of circumstances, IMO. But I wont digress more about that, because I really do think inert gas asphyxiation is a very good and humane method-- in many ways superior to lethal injection.

So, having said that, I have been thinking a lot about delivery mechanisms for the nitrogen asphyxiation. I actually do not support a "flooded room" delivery method, similar to the cyanide gas chamber, for a number of reasons. I also don't think a mask delivery system is ideal-- for a number of reasons.

What I currently think would be ideal for the prisoner, the corrections execution team, and the observers, is a modified design of a device that we used to call a "cakebox" hood for newborns.

Here are a few links:

http://www.utahmed.com/disposahood.htm

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...ygen+hood&qpvt=newborn++oxygen+hood&FORM=IGRE

Obviously, it would have to be manufactured to adult sizing, as well as have a flange creating an airtight seal around the chest or neck sufficient to contain the nitrogen without entraining room air. I think this would be the safest for the execution team, and permit continuous observation of the condemned. It also avoids the need to secure a mask tightly to the prisoner, and allows them some movement of their mouth, face, etc. It also permits the condemned to see their loved ones, the family of their victim, the warden, etc.

The "hood" is a much smaller volume than an entire room, and would not need to be "flushed" before the execution team could safely enter. The amount of nitrogen in the hood would be sufficient to humanely asphyxiate the inmate, but would safely disperse and dilute in the vast volume of room air when removed from the inmate. It would use far less of the nitrogen resources than flooding the chamber/ room, also. (Cheaper.) Nitrogen is widely available, eliminating the issues with obtaining pharmaceuticals.

I don't like the idea of flooding a room/ chamber, because of the danger to the execution team. Although it would certainly work well. The need to install costly "flush" systems would be eliminated with a hood system.

I think a hood could be manufactured (probably outside of the U.S.) to allow the condemned to be executed in either a restrained sitting position, or a supine position. That is beneficial, because a choice could be extended to the condemned inmate to go out sitting up (some breathe easier in that position), or laying down.

Inert gas asphyxiation is VERY fast-- read the descriptions of the workers who unknowingly entered the flooded chambers of the space vehicles. I think it's potentially very humane, dignified for the inmate, avoids the sensations of choking or suffocating, and leaves a "palatable" observation experience for the staff and watchers. It also leaves a corpse that is intact without trauma-- and there is some social "acceptance" value to that, as well as for the family of the inmate.

I especially like that IV access by marginally trained personnel is avoided. The inmate could be offered a valium or Xanax tablet to swallow ahead of time, if desired.

In summary, quick, cheap, easy, non-messy, not too gruesome, hard to screw up, and can be done by people with no medical experience at all.

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Supernovae said:

I remember we had this conversation a little while ago. Putting my cards on the table, I oppose the death penalty on principle and think it should be replaced with whole life sentences. I don't see what this rigmarole adds to society. But to comment on the specific proposal, I don't like the concept of the hood, psychologically. I think a chamber (possibly with a window), where the prisoner would be able to talk to those outside and wouldn't be aware of exactly when the gas was being pumped in, would be more humane.

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al66pine said:

...Is it possible some, many, most, or virtually all the debate about methods of executing death sentences
is a smoke screen for argument against the death penalty, period?
Is the method-controversy anything more than hair splitting?
Not personally commenting here about capital punishment, one way or the other.

W capital punishment as part of our judicial system, seems like the more options the better.

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Nova said:

The more options the better? Including staking convicts on top of ant hills, breaking convicts on the rack and injecting convicts with ebola to watch the effects?
I think k_z, supernovae and I have been clear in separating the issue of capital punishment per se from the issue of how we kill death-row convicts as painlessly as possible.

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