This thread discusses the Content article: Killing in secret: Death by lethal injection
Is Mr. Whitehead Secretive?
The lethal injection chemicals, their effects and their IV application are well known. No secret.
If properly administered, no pain will occur with the properties and amounts of the chemicals used, within the time frame of an execution. No secret.
The two primary medical articles complaining about possible lethal injection pain could only speculate that there might be pain. Their conclusions were dependent upon such words as SUGGEST, MIGHT, MAY, IF, COULD. No secret.
Belgium and the Netherlands recommend the first two drugs in the US lethal injection process for euthanasia. Our third drug brings on death more quickly. No secret.
The simple fact is that non medical personnel are trained to mix and administer the chemicals used in lethal injection. No secret.
Even with those rare errors in lethal injection, those cases resulted in the death of the inmate - the intended outcome for the guilty murderer.
In the errors of medical professionals, in medical operating roomes, we are speaking of a large number of deaths and injuries to innocent patients - the opposite of the intended outcome.
It appears that some 500-1000 innocent patients die, every year, in the US, due to some type of medical misadventure, with anesthesia.
No secret.
What alleged secrets are you concerned about, Mr. Whitehead?
Must be the horrendous murders committed by those facing a peaceful execution.
By the way, no secret. You simply must have forgotten to mention them.
Quite painful. No secret. No speculation. |
Hello Dudley
Nice to see you here
Of course we both know we are on opposite sides of the fence hereon the death penalty, which I fully respect.
I do see your point in that the victims of the crimes were not mentioned at all and this should have been mentioned.
There can be no humane way to kill someone. Which I know is not the point to people who support the death penalty.
And the training has to be given by someone who is in the medical know how at first at least. Which should be a no no.
Vets dont use the combination of drugs to put pets to sleep. Surely that tells us that something is wrong with this method?
Killing people as punishment in my opinion does not have a place in civilised society, but you already know my opinion on this.
Oh, Great Spirit, grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins." - Old Indian Prayer My dad told me!! |
Thank you for the welcome. It is appreciated.
Regarding the vet issue.
Veterinary Claims a Distortion of Reality: Human Lethal Injection
Dudley Sharp, Justice Matters, contact info, below
Within the death penalty debate, there is an allegation that veterinarians are prohibited from using pancuronium bromide or Pavulon, the paralyzing agent used in human lethal injection, because it may cause and/or mask pain to the animals, within the euthanasia process.
It is also stated that vets are prohibited from using potassium chloride, the heart stooping drug, used thirdly, in the three drug human lethal injection protocol.
In turn, this is used as a new anti death penalty sound bite - "It is too cruel for animals, but we use it on people."
First, the The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommendations of 2000 (1) , inadvertently, support the human lethal injection protocol -- the opposite of what the detractors have been claiming.
AVMA: "When used alone, these drugs (paralytics) all cause respiratory arrest before loss of consciousness, so the animal may perceive pain and distress after it is immobilized." (2)
Obviously, no state, which practices human lethal injection, uses a paralytic without an anaesthetic -- EVER. The anesthesia is always used first. It appears that these absurd claims, falsely attributed to veterinary literature, have been a bald faced lie by anti death penalty activists.
To claim that paralytics are condemned in veterinary euthanasia, without mentioning the specific context, is an intentional deception. (The AVMA does not mention the specific paralytic used in lethal injection for humans).
Secondly, if properly anesthetized, as in human lethal injection, there would be no pain experienced when using Pavulon. That is also well known.
Thirdly, in Belgium and the Netherlands, their euthanasia protocol is as follows: A coma is first induced by intravenous administration of 20 mg/kg sodium thiopental (Nesdonal) (NOTE-the first drug in human lethal injection) in a small volume (10 ml physiological saline). Then a triple intravenous dose of a non-depolarizing neuromuscular muscle relaxant is given, such as 20 mg pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) (NOTE-the second drug, the paralytic, in human lethal injection) or 20 mg vecuronium bromide (Norcuron). The muscle relaxant should preferably be given intravenously, in order to ensure optimal availability. Only for pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) are there substantial indications that the agent may also be given intramuscularly in a dosage of 40 mg.(3)
Just like execution, lethal injection in the US, although we give a third drug which speeds up death.
Fourth, the AVMA, similarly, prohibits the use of potassium chloride, "WHEN USED ALONE". (4) (my capitalization for emphasis).
Of course, human lethal injection uses the two previously mentioned drugs, prior to injection of the potassium chloride - it is never used alone. This is well known, as well, thereby revealing more deceptions by the anti death penalty cabal.
Fourth,, the AVMA, specifically, cautions (5):
"1. The guidelines in this report are in no way intended to be used for human lethal injection.
2. The application of a barbiturate, paralyzing agent, and potassium chloride delivered in separate
syringes or stages (the common method used for human lethal injection) is not cited in the report.
3. The report never mentions pancuronium bromide or Pavulon, the paralyzing agent used in human
lethal injection."
Obviously, the AVMA is saying DON'T use our report to draw any inferences with regard to the human lethal injection protocol. Of course, death penalty opponents decided to ignore that responsible request.
The AVMA continues:
"Before referring to the 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia, please contact the AVMA to ensure the association's position is stated correctly. Please contact Michael San Filippo, media relations assistant at the AVMA, at 847-285-6687 (office), 847-732-6194 (cell) or msanfilippo(at)avma.org for more information or to set up an interview with a veterinary expert." (5)
Death penalty opponents ignored that request, as well.
Based upon this literature, it is clear that this veterinary nonsense was another anti death penalty fraud, which, sadly and often, escaped media fact checking, but not media repetition.
The AVMA approves of "potassium chloride in conjunction with prior general anesthesia" (6) for animals -- this is the drug protocol used within most lethal injection protocols, with the exception of the paralytic used in between.
This actually shows support for the human lethal injection protocol, however unintended.
First, this two drug protocol is approved by AVMA, for animals.
Secondly, a disadvantage listed by AVMA for potassium chloride is "clonic spams" (7) -- rapid and violent jerking of muscles soon after injection of the potassium. The paralytic drug, used second, within the human lethal injection protocol, helps to reduce, or eliminate, this effect.
In other words, a review of the AVMA literature finds much support, however inadvertent, for the human lethal injection protocol and nothing that conflicts with or condemns it.
Hopefully, this newest, blatant distortion by the anti death penalty crowd will soon fade.
----------------------
Veterinary use of sodium pentobarbital
"Pentobarbital is a barbiturate that is available as both a free acid and a sodium salt, the former of which is only slightly soluble in water and ethanol." (8) (NOTE -- I don't believe this is used for human lethal injection).
"Veterinary medicine
In veterinary medicine sodium pentobarbital—traded under names such as Sagatal—is used as an anaesthetic.UBC Committee on Animal Care (2005). Euthanasia. SOP 009E1 - euthanasia - overdose with pentobarbital. The University of British Columbia. URL accessed on 4 October, 2005. Pentobarbital is an ingredient in Equithesin." (7)
"Veterinary Euthanasia
It is used by itself, or more often in combination with complementary agents such as phenytoin, in commercial animal euthanasia (2003). ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA. Animal Use Protocols. University of Virginia. URL accessed on 4 October, 2005. injectable solutions. Trade names include Euthasol, Euthatal, Beuthanasia-D and Fatal Plus. "(7)
1) www(dot)avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
Appendix 1, page 693
2) www(dot)avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
Appendix 4, page 696
3)http://wweek.com/___ALL_OLD_HTML/euthanasics.html
4) www(dot)avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
Page 681
5) www(dot)avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
Cover Page
6) www(dot)avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
Page 680
7) www(dot)avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
Page 681
8) http://psychcentral.com/psypsych/Pentobarbital
copyright 2005-2008 Dudley Sharp
Dudley Sharp, Justice Matters
e-mail sharpjfa@aol.com, 713-622-5491,
Houston, Texas
Mr. Sharp has appeared on ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, FOX, NBC, NPR, PBS and many other TV and radio networks, on such programs as Nightline, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, The O'Reilly Factor, etc., has been quoted in newspapers throughout the world and is a published author.
A former opponent of capital punishment, he has written and granted interviews about, testified on and debated the subject of the death penalty, extensively and internationally.
Pro death penalty sites
homicidesurvivors(dot)com/categories/Dudley%20Sharp%20-%20Justice%20Matters.aspx
www(dot)dpinfo.com
www(dot)cjlf.org/deathpenalty/DPinformation.htm
www(dot)clarkprosecutor.org/html/links/dplinks.htm
joshmarquis(dot)blogspot.com/
www(dot)lexingtonprosecutor.com/death_penalty_debate.htm
www(dot)prodeathpenalty.com
www(dot)yesdeathpenalty.com/deathpenalty_contents.htm (Sweden)
Permission for distribution of this document, in whole or part, is approved, with proper attribution.
Oh, Great Spirit, grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins." - Old Indian Prayer My dad told me!! |
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