New drug cocktails for executions....opinions?

TereseRN, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2013

William Happ Executed In Fla. For Illinois Woman's 1986 Murder

In addition, I bet Angie wished she was given some versed before she was raped and then strangled by her stretch pants by this animal. I just find it sad for the victim and her family that this murdered was kept alive for another 27 years, and yet people question if his death will be humane. It just does not seem fair.

allnurses Guide · Dec 28, 2013

This isn't a capital punishment debate or what someone believes. It isn't even a debate on what is humane. This is part of the United States Constitution. Cruel and Unusual Punishment legal definition of Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Cruel and Unusual Punishment synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary. There is a legal precedence to abide by and what most people on here are suggesting for use in capital punishment would never make it past the lowest court ruling.

If you believe in capital punishment then you are going to want what is going to able to make it through the courts and be used not some idea of what you think is best/cheapest etc.

You can sit and debate how the world isn't fair all day long, but you are not going to change the United States Constitution.

manusko · Dec 28, 2013

This guy abducted raped, and murdered his victim back in 1986 and we are concerned if whether or not his death will be humane? Angie's death wasn't humane, so why should we care. Why is an article even worth our time when this guy performed a heinous crime? A lot of these medications have shortages in the hospitals. Shortages to patients who did not rape or murder people, shortages to people who we are actually trying to save and make their lives comfortable while the are intubated and reliant on machines and IV drips. So again who cares if this criminal experiences discomfort? Save these medications for patients who deserve to be made comfortable.[/quote']
Anyone who would willing torture and kill someone is a pitiful individual. That being said what would be the difference between the offender and the one carrying out the punishment? I would hate to see the person that would perform this execution without any remorse or reservations. I would believe there is already some psychological issues the executioners deal with, without adding the sense of torture and cruelty to them.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2013

This guy abducted, raped, and murdered his victim back in 1986 and we are concerned if whether or not his death will be humane? Angie's death wasn't humane, so why should we care. Why is an article even worth our time when this guy performed a heinous crime? A lot of these medications have shortages in the hospitals. Shortages to patients who did not rape or murder people, shortages to people who we are actually trying to save and make their lives comfortable while the are intubated and reliant on machines and IV drips. So again who cares if this criminal experiences discomfort? Save these medications for patients who deserve to be made comfortable.

I remember my anatomy teacher in high school saying that he thought intravenous tap water should be the method of choice for executions. Quick and cheap. Give enough and it would cause massive hemolysis... probably sepsis too but I don't think the person would live long enough for that to kick in.

I've been on the receiving end of Versed a handful of times. It always made me very happy/drunk. Enough so that I didn't think anything the doctors were doing to me was cruel... though I certainly would have protested if I were fully awake. This man has been executed and it seems like the combo worked well enough.

allnurses Guide · Dec 28, 2013

I remember my anatomy teacher in high school saying that he thought intravenous tap water should be the method of choice for executions. Quick and cheap. Give enough and it would cause massive hemolysis... probably sepsis too but I don't think the person would live long enough for that to kick in.
I've been on the receiving end of Versed a handful of times. It always made me very happy/drunk. Enough so that I didn't think anything the doctors were doing to me was cruel... though I certainly would have protested if I were fully awake. This man has been executed and it seems like the combo worked well enough.

You more than likely received an anxiolytic dose of Versed and this prisoner received dose of versed that was probably up to 10x enough to induce general anesthesia. He would have been unconscious in seconds.

The catch with using these drugs is various drug manufactures are afraid they will be sued for even supplying the drugs to the state for use in capital punishment.

Guests · Dec 28, 2013

The catch with using these drugs is various drug manufactures are afraid they will be sued for even supplying the drugs to the state for use in capital punishment.

Which is why we should be looking at nonpharmaceutical means of execution...

or licensing some small manufacturer to produce 'execution grade' drugs...

or ending capital punishment altogether...

jwk · Dec 28, 2013

Use the same method used to euthanize countless animals every day - CO2. Place the condemned in the gas chamber, pump in CO2, they go to sleep as their PaCO2 quickly rises, they arrest, and die. Simple, cheap, dependable, easy.

allnurses Guide · Dec 28, 2013

Which is why we should be looking at nonpharmaceutical means of execution...
or licensing some small manufacturer to produce 'execution grade' drugs...
or ending capital punishment altogether...

And that is why these states are doing everything in secret now... Most non pharmaceutical methods aren't approved for use in most states and the ones that are all have flaws.