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> the must-cause-pain execution method On the contrary: "cruel and unusual punishment" is Constitutionally prohibited in the US. Execution itself hasn't been

> the must-cause-pain execution method On the contrary: "cruel and unusual punishment" is Constitutionally prohibited in the US. Execution itself hasn't been ruled out by this, but it is not allowed to cause extreme pain. The dependence on certain drugs seems to be because of "conservatively" designing the execution protocol to a) consistently cause quick death, and b) not be painful, for instance by causing unconsciousness. There is evidence that some convicts were conscious. On the other hand, I skimmed some euthanasia protocols[0], and to a layman at least, they appear similar to the ones for execution in the US, so I'm not sure you're correct about it being pleasant for the euthanasia patients. Perhaps the euthanasia one I read is outdated and they have better ones. I think we're less likely to hear about possibly-painful euthanasia experiences as we are about possibly-painful executions, though. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_injection#Euthanasia_protocol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_injection#Euthanasia_pr...

knorby 11y ago
I believe it is designed to cause pain and distress, because I've heard the designer of lethal injection say that's the point. Kinder methods were rejected because it was meant as a replacement for means like the electric chair, the gas chamber, and firing squads. It isn't meant to torture, but you aren't meant to drift softly into the night. The doc was on BBC Horizon (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7183957.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7183957.stm). The alternative suggested there is oxygen deprivation via nitrogen. Hopefully euthanasia patients will at least be monitored. They've struck me as more pleasant at least.
- NoPiece 11y ago
  You are 100% wrong. Here is an interview with the guy you are talking about who came up with the lethal injection protocol 40 years ago. The specific intent was to be humane, and all it is an overdose of the standard anesthesia of the time. http://time.com/101143/lethal-injection-creator-jay-chapman-botched-executions/ http://time.com/101143/lethal-injection-creator-jay-chapman-...
  - knorby 11y ago
    You are correct. I deeply mixed up people. I was thinking of this interview with Robert Blecker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9YgWXKAwNY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9YgWXKAwNY. That it is failing and states haven't adjusted to something that might cause euphoria is in my view a bias to pain.

knorby 11y ago

I believe it is designed to cause pain and distress, because I've heard the designer of lethal injection say that's the point. Kinder methods were rejected because it was meant as a replacement for means like the electric chair, the gas chamber, and firing squads. It isn't meant to torture, but you aren't meant to drift softly into the night. The doc was on BBC Horizon (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7183957.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7183957.stm). The alternative suggested there is oxygen deprivation via nitrogen. Hopefully euthanasia patients will at least be monitored. They've struck me as more pleasant at least.

NoPiece 11y ago
You are 100% wrong. Here is an interview with the guy you are talking about who came up with the lethal injection protocol 40 years ago. The specific intent was to be humane, and all it is an overdose of the standard anesthesia of the time. http://time.com/101143/lethal-injection-creator-jay-chapman-botched-executions/ http://time.com/101143/lethal-injection-creator-jay-chapman-...
- knorby 11y ago
  You are correct. I deeply mixed up people. I was thinking of this interview with Robert Blecker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9YgWXKAwNY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9YgWXKAwNY. That it is failing and states haven't adjusted to something that might cause euphoria is in my view a bias to pain.