Death by lethal injection: It is time for more transparency
Al JazeeraAn apparently botched execution in Alabama raises questions about the use of medicine as an arm of state power. Regardless of how one might feel about the rightness or wrongness of capital punishment, it still must comport with the law and not violate the 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which bars “cruel and unusual punishments.” Yet if accounts are true, James was subjected to a three-hour ordeal, as state officials attempted to establish intravenous access without any witnesses present. Alabama intends to carry out additional executions before the results of James’s autopsy are made public. In the hands of a skilled person, establishing two separate IVs in the arms, which is the state requirement for lethal injection, may take 10 minutes. A toxicology report will eventually be available from the state autopsy which will tell us what drugs James had in his body when he was killed.
History of this topic
Alabama executes man for the 2001 beating death of a woman, resuming lethal injections after review
Associated Press
Alabama to carry out first lethal injection after review of execution procedures
The Independent
EXPLAINER: Why are states having lethal injection problems?
Associated Press
EXPLAINER: Why are states having lethal injection problems?
The Independent
Delay raises questions about Alabama lethal injection
The Independent
Alabama gov: Execution set despite wishes of victim’s family
Associated Press
Court: Alabama can’t keep its lethal injection method secret
Associated Press
Death row inmate sues after ‘botched’ execution
CNN
Records show Oklahoma inmate chatted with execution team
Associated Press
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