Lethal Injection Research Paper

Lethal Injection: The Flaw of Capital Punishment Background/History Capital punishment has taken on many forms throughout history, some examples being, beheading, the guillotine, hangings, firing squad, the electric chair, and lethal gas. The main method that is used and talked about today is lethal injection. To illustrate what lethal injection is, let's go back and overview where lethal injection came from. In an interview between NPR radio stations Audie Cornish and Richard Dieter, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a history of lethal injection for capital punishment is given. The lethal injection came about as a more humane form of capital punishment in hopes that the public will continue to embrace the executions. …show more content…
In 1977, when lethal injection was being refined, the anesthesiologist that came up with the three drug cocktail just listed three drugs. One that would cause anesthesia, another that would cause paralysis, and the last that would cause death (Zimmers, al., 2001). 2007). The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the What should have happened to protect inmates' eighth amendment rights, is study and research to confirm the effectiveness of lethal injection as capital punishment. Despite the anesthesiologist's knowledge of drugs for anesthesia, it is still in the best interest of the inmate and the execution staff to have a concrete method of execution. Consider what would happen if the drugs suggested were administered incorrectly. The possible outcomes are innumerable. The inmate could come out alive and be paralyzed for the rest of their time because of the paralytics used. That then violates the inmates' eighth amendment rights because causing paralysis is a very cruel and unusual punishment. These inmates were not signed up as guinea pigs to be tested for lethal injection, but to have a peaceful and quick release from life. To combat this dreadful mistake, researchers should evaluate the effectiveness of each drug used in the three drug cocktails and test them all combined and separately to see what happens. As scientists research, …show more content…
In a recent survey, 50% of participants named a better method for capital punishment other than lethal injection. The civilian aspect has to be considered when it comes to changing methods of capital punishment. One of the reasons lethal injections came about was to make capital punishment more humane. This was done to satisfy the public as well as keep them on board with capital punishment. Some methods from the survey included, Firing squad, Carbon monoxide poisoning, and pills. To start a firing squad has a perfect track record with zero botched executions. This method is always quick and efficient when it comes to capital punishment. Next, carbon monoxide, which is very similar to nitrogen asphyxiation, seems to be a catch among executioners, those on death row and the public. Lastly, the pills are a must. With all of today's modern medical technology and knowledge of the body, why isn’t it that something hasn’t been created to solve this problem of suffering caused by lethal injection? Something as simple as a pill. All of the methods listed can be used to replace lethal injection as capital punishment. After all, the electric chair was replaced by lethal injection as a more humane form of capital punishment. A new method should be tested, researched and used that is in agreement with the public and is quick, painless and efficient. Alternative

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