Sodium thiopental anesthetic and execution medium - GIF

[Altair]

Sodium thiopental, an anesthetic used in lethal injections.




Previously:

1613 German executioner's sword - photo
Lethal doses of substances - infographic

[Nitrous]

That’s a pretty nasty drug to go interstitial… it’s extremely alkaline when reconstituted.
Strong garlic/onion taste once it hits the tongue.

In at least one US state, the reconstitution protocol is to do serial reconstitutions with the previously reconstituted syringe ( for a total of 5grms STP). Not uncommon for the drug to recrystallize in the cannula, essentially blowing the site when the pavulon and potassium chloride is infused.

Not a particularly reliable method of ending a life. Apparently, the protocol was designed by a retired surgeon (I suspect who saw way too many ‘good’ anaesthetics. Good anaesthetics look easy… belying the skill of the anesthesiologist)

[ductape]

Very good information, Nitrous. I learned something. Maybe others have, too.

One of the main reasons for choosing lethal injection is because the procedure is generally considered to be less traumatic to the witnesses than other methods like electrocution or firing squad.

Nurses and doctors generally aren't allowed to perform it due to Hippocratic Oath and/or Declaration of Geneva. That leaves it up to others with questionable training, which may explain the success rate compared to other methods.

[Frank S]

Being less traumatic for the witnesses is one of the leading causes so many heinous crimes are committed. Would be criminals are never exposed to the probable consequences of turning to violent crime. when it comes to capital crimes, some things should be barbaric, and traumatic. IMO

[tonyfoale]

.... the reconstitution protocol is to do serial reconstitutions with the previously reconstituted syringe ( for a total of 5grms STP). Not uncommon for the drug to recrystallize in the cannula, essentially blowing the site when the pavulon and potassium chloride is infused.

I am sure that is interesting but is there any chance of having it in English. I tried Google translate but it was unable to help.

[mklotz]

I am sure that is interesting but is there any chance of having it in English. I tried Google translate but it was unable to help.

I know little about medicine and very little about chemical execution but it's fun to guess about stuff like this...

STP is probably an acronym of Sodium Thiopental, the anesthetic used to relax the subject before the injection of the killer drugs.

Reconstitution is the act or process of returning a dehydrated or concentrated food or other substance to its normal liquid state by adding water.

Apparently STP is supplied as a crystal/powder and must be reconstituted to be injected.

Apparently it can recrystallize in the cannula, a metal tube for insertion into the body to draw off fluid or to introduce medication, and prevent the death-dealing drugs from reaching the heart. (Too high a potassium concentration in the blood will stop the heart.)


According to Wikipedia...

"Pancuronium (trademarked as Pavulon) is an aminosteroid muscle relaxant with various medical uses.[1] It is used in euthanasia and is used in some states as the second of three drugs administered during lethal injections in the United States."


The most effective, reliable and humane execution method is still the guillotine; not to mention, for sheer deterrent impact, it can't be beat.

All the other methods - hanging, electrocution, firing squad, chemicals - are subject to things going terriblly wrong and the victim suffering needlessly.

The guillotine depends on gravity, for which there is no recorded history of it ever failing. Big sloppy sleeves on the blade make a hang-up impossible. Make the blade heavy enough and the frame high enough and incomplete severing of the neck can't happen regardless of the victim's physique.

[Frank S]

Executions should never be humane. Whatever they did to warrant an execution you can be assured they had no humane thoughts while committing the crime.

[IntheGroove]