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 dont 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.