“Supreme Court Allows Alabama Execution Using Controversial Nitrogen Hypoxia Method”
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has allowed the state of Alabama to proceed with the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, using the controversial method of nitrogen hypoxia. This untested method has faced legal challenges and even received criticism from the United Nations. Smith is set to be the first person in the United States to be put to death by nitrogen gas, raising concerns among medical professionals and animal rights activists alike.
The use of nitrogen gas as a form of capital punishment is not only condemned by some medical experts but also by veterinarians who oppose its use on animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association, in 2020, advised against the use of nitrogen gas for euthanizing most mammals, deeming it “distressing.” Interestingly, one of the few instances where nitrogen gas is used in animal euthanasia is with chickens.
Experts have repeatedly warned about the potential suffering and risks associated with nitrogen toxicity. Inhaling pure nitrogen gas or nitrogen gas at lethal concentrations can lead to asphyxiation. This method has emerged as an alternative to more commonly used forms of capital punishment such as lethal injection and electrocution. While lethal gas is authorized as an execution method in seven states, Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma are the only ones that have specified the use of nitrogen. Among them, Alabama is the only state that has released a formal execution protocol for nitrogen hypoxia.
Although breathing nitrogen through a mask could potentially cause a person to lose consciousness before oxygen deprivation leads to death, Smith’s legal team accused the state of using him as a “test subject” for a lethal experiment. The United Nations’ human rights office has called on Alabama to halt the execution, highlighting the lack of scientific evidence supporting the claim that nitrogen inhalation will not cause “grave suffering.”
During the execution, Smith will be strapped to a gurney and forced to breathe nitrogen through a gas mask until his body is entirely deprived of oxygen and shuts down. While this method has never been used before in a death chamber, the consequences of excessive nitrogen inhalation, often observed in industrial accidents, are well-documented.
Nitrogen is a naturally occurring gas that constitutes approximately 75% of the air we breathe. However, it is only safe to inhale when mixed with an appropriate concentration of oxygen. If the oxygen concentration falls below 10%, inhaling nitrogen can be lethal, causing a range of effects such as the inability to move, loss of consciousness, convulsions, and ultimately death.
The decision by the Supreme Court to allow the execution using the nitrogen hypoxia method has sparked a debate about the ethics and humanity of capital punishment. Critics argue that there are too many uncertainties and potential risks associated with this untested method, while proponents believe it offers a more humane alternative to traditional forms of execution.
As Kenneth Eugene Smith’s execution date looms closer, the world watches to see how this unprecedented use of nitrogen gas will unfold. The outcome of this controversial case may have far-reaching implications for the future of capital punishment in the United States.
