Controversial Execution Method: Alabama Uses Nitrogen Gas
In a groundbreaking move, the state of Alabama has executed a death row inmate using nitrogen gas. Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted of the murder-for-hire of a preacher’s wife in 1988, was originally scheduled to be executed with lethal drugs. However, due to complications with inserting the necessary intravenous lines, the execution was called off. Eventually, Smith was executed using nitrogen gas, a controversial method that had never been used before in the United States.
The Search for a New Execution Method
Execution methods vary across the US, with some states still allowing hanging, firing squad, or the electric chair. However, in recent decades, lethal injection has become the primary method of execution. Texas was the first state to execute a criminal using lethal injection in 1982, and last year, 24 people were executed in the US, mostly in Florida and Texas, all via lethal injection.
Lethal injection, however, has not been without its challenges. Difficulties in inserting IV needles have led to botched executions in Alabama and other states. Additionally, obtaining lethal injection drugs has become increasingly difficult, with bans on exports from the UK and the European Union and drug manufacturers refusing to sell them for execution purposes. Consequently, states have been exploring alternative execution methods.
The Science behind Nitrogen Hypoxia
In Smith’s execution, prison officials strapped a mask to his face and administered pure nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas is not poisonous in its regular form and constitutes a significant portion of the Earth’s atmosphere. However, when in concentrated form, breathing in pure nitrogen gas deprives the brain of oxygen, resulting in nitrogen hypoxia.
Nitrogen gas executions have been approved by three states, including Alabama in 2018, and have faced legal challenges. Critics argue that it is an experimental procedure with potential risks, while proponents claim it is a humane method of execution. They cite examples of nitrogen hypoxia occurring in industrial accidents where victims seemingly become unaware of their surroundings.
Controversies and Concerns
Critics of nitrogen gas executions, such as Dr Jeff Keller, President of the American College of Correctional Physicians, argue that many things can go wrong during the procedure. Deborah Denno, a criminologist at Fordham Law School, points out that the masks used in nitrogen gas executions often do not fit properly, allowing air to enter and potentially causing complications such as vomiting or brain damage.
Witnesses to Smith’s execution have also raised concerns, stating that he did not lose consciousness within seconds and appeared to inhale the gas for an extended period before succumbing to it. These accounts raise questions about the effectiveness and painlessness of the method.
Changing Attitudes towards the Death Penalty
While Smith’s execution has sparked controversy, it comes at a time when support for the death penalty in the US has been declining. The number of executions has significantly decreased, and fewer death penalties are being handed out by courts. Factors contributing to this change include botched executions, nearly 200 exonerations of death row inmates, legal changes preventing the execution of mentally impaired individuals and juveniles, and the reluctance of juries to impose death sentences.
According to Gallup, 53% of Americans currently support the death penalty for convicted murderers, down from 80% three decades ago. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), believes this trend will continue due to various factors shaping public opinion.
Conclusion
Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas for execution has ignited controversy and raised questions about the ethics and effectiveness of this method. As the search for alternative execution methods continues, the declining support for the death penalty in the US suggests a changing landscape regarding capital punishment. With fewer executions being carried out and a growing awareness of flaws within the system, it remains to be seen how the debate over the death penalty will evolve in the coming years.
