Jason EganWhy do they swab the arm of a prisoner before administering lethal injection?
September 23rd 2006 13:52
So what are lethal injections? They are fatal measures of various drugs mixed together and forcibly inserted into a person to cause death. It is currently the most common form of execution in the United States (US): every execution there in 2005 used this technique.
The drugs that are combined into a lethal cocktail are Sodium thiopental (5 grams, and it puts the prisoner into a coma-like state), Pancuronium bromide (100 milligrams, and it paralyses the muscles throughout the body) and Potassium chloride (100 milliequivalents [mEq], an electrolyte that interferes with the electrical impulses of the heart – causing it to halt). The prisoner’s arm is swabbed with alcohol before the needle and drugs are both inserted.
Death by drugs.
While alcohol (in the swab) is a popular antiseptic, it also causes blood vessels to rise to the surface – facilitating the insertion of the needle. Also, there is a slight chance of the prisoner’s fate being delayed or overturned right up to the final moment, placing real importance on the sterility of the procedure. Since the mixture takes anywhere between 7 and 11 minutes to register death, the prisoner may live to fight another day (if pardoned during that time).
Fat chance, you say. Well it has happened before! In October 1983, convicted murderer James Autrey was to receive the lethal injection – he was connected to the equipment and all – when he was told that a stay of execution had been received. He returned to his cell and was not executed until the following year.
Despite there being differing views on the legality of the death penalty, it would be highly inappropriate if the prisoner executed was, in fact, innocent.
Which brings forward the main significance of arm swabbing – professionalism. Technicians performing the task do not want to be labelled, simply, as ‘killers’. They have been known to place high values in following correct procedure. For example, if a prisoner happens to suffer from a terminating illness (prior to execution); the team of technicians would desperately try to retain that person's full health - before having no qualms in ending it 'properly' later on.
As Burl Cain, warden of Angola penitentiary, recalled during the swabbing (and subsequent execution) of convicted murderer Antonio James (Louisiana, 1996): “…I would not like to execute an inmate without faith, because I know I would be sending his soul straight to hell.”
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Comment by Damo
Comment by Aaron
I'm voting for burying the killer up to the neck in dirt and having fire ants eat his face off.
But, that story was very well written. Great research. It was a fun read.
Aaron.
Comment by Chantal
Let's take the best possible scenario, that the person is guilty of the most heinous crime imagineable, why on Earth would we give them an easy out such as death? Aaron's suggestion would be better in a case such as that. Even a life sentence is much better punishment than a quick, easy and pain free death.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
That was a very well written piece worth the reading.
Lilla.
Comment by Anonymous
lethal injection is so mush fun to look at for me !!!
I participated in one and it proved to be the most exciting eyesight !!!