Jolie Rouge

Doctor: Ohio's lethal injection inhumane
By JOE MILICIA, Associated Press Writer
30 minutes ago

ELYRIA, Ohio - An anesthesiologist testified Monday that Ohio's lethal injection procedure isn't appropriate for dogs or cats, let alone humans.

Dr. Mark Heath's testimony on behalf of two murder defendants came in a Lorain County hearing on the constitutionality of state's method for putting prisoners to death.
Heath, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Columbia University, says it's possible to perform lethal injection of prisoners in a humane manner, but that Ohio's method falls below the standard for euthanizing household pets.

Ohio requires its executions to be carried out "in a professional, humane, sensitive and dignified manner." The two men facing murder charges say the state's lethal injection procedure doesn't give the quick and painless deaths required by state law.

Lethal injections are on hold nationally while the U.S. Supreme Court considers a challenge in a case from Kentucky, which is among the roughly three dozen states that administer three drugs in succession to sedate, paralyze and kill prisoners.

The major criticism of the three-drug execution procedure is that if the executioner administers too little anesthetic or makes mistakes in injecting it, the inmate could suffer excruciating pain from the other two drugs.

Difficulties with two executions in recent years, in which the execution team struggled to find suitable veins in inmates' arms, brought complaints that the method is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual. Ohio officials stand by the procedure.

Heath testified on behalf of defendants Ronald McCloud and Ruben Rivera, who are accused of separate murders and could receive death sentences if convicted.

The state was expected to counter with expert witness Dr. Mark Dershwitz, an anesthesiologist from Massachusetts, who will testify via video conference Tuesday.

Ohio has executed 26 inmates since it resumed putting prisoners to death in 1999.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080407/...D4BJSVelZH2ocA

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LunaChick

I think lethal injection is much more humane than the alternatives. However, I'm not a fan of the death penalty. Even with my history it's not something I can fully stand behind. I'm not totally against it either. I have a hard time with the death penalty.

Now if it's decided on no LI, that's it's too inhumane, what will come next? I don't think the death penalty will ever be abolished in this country. There will be always another way thought up so that death sentences can be carried out.

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SLance68

I would be glad to do away with lethal injections, electric chair & all other methods of "legal" death penalties if we could just kill them off they way they killed their victims. Sorry but I do not believe that they have more rights than the people they harmed/killed/maimed. JMHO

hblueeyes

I agree. Lethal injection is much more humane than how the victims died.

Me

Shann

I agree. I used to be against the death penalty but not anymore. If they can prove w/o a doubt that the person being sentanced did said crime, they should go out the way their victim did. Why should they get "a professional, humane, sensitive and dignified manner"when their victims did not

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renaissanceman

I could care less about the "Humane" treatment of monsters who rape and kill, molest children etc.

ilovecats

DAVESBABYDOLL

These people who are on death row are there for a reason, the took a life (s) I would say an eye for an eye..lethal injection is by far easier on them then the deaths they caused. We could starve them to death and save lots of $$ at the same time. There's always a fireing squad or death by hanging.

I voted "who care's"

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PrincessArky

I think it is more inhumane for the victim's family......... let them get justice the old fashioned way

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dv8grl

You got that right!!!!!!

PinkAquila

ITA

if they don't want the injection, then let them die the same way they murdered their victims.

Pink!