The state of Alabama recently made headlines by conducting the execution of convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith using a method not employed in the United States since 1999 тАУ nitrogen gas. Departing from the widely used lethal injection, Smith’s death marked a historic shift in execution protocols.
In a nitrogen gas execution, the condemned person is sealed within a chamber where nitrogen gradually replaces the oxygen. As nitrogen is inhaled, oxygen levels drop, inducing unconsciousness and ultimately leading to death. The process took approximately 22 minutes for Kenneth Eugene Smith, during which he exhibited signs of consciousness, including writhing and thrashing for a few minutes, followed by heavy breathing.
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Nitrogen, a component of our air, becomes lethal when not mixed with adequate oxygen. This controversial method has sparked ethical debates and concerns. Critics liken it to human experimentation, questioning the untested nature of nitrogen hypoxia. Issues raised include the possibility of an airtight execution mask, concerns about oxygen leakage, the risk of vomiting inside the mask, and the challenge of detecting nitrogen’s effects due to its odourless and colourless nature.
Worries extend to the well-being of those administering the execution, as the potential for mask dislodgment further complicates the process. Limited testing of nitrogen gas as an execution method raises questions about its reliability and potential complications.
Notably, the United Nations expressed apprehensions, warning that Alabama’s use of nitrogen hypoxia might breach international prohibitions against torture and inhumane treatment. Criticism was also directed at the absence of a sedative provision before execution, a standard practice for euthanizing large animals. Compounding concerns is the heavily redacted documentation surrounding the execution, leaving crucial details undisclosed.
Alabama now joins Oklahoma and Mississippi as one of the three U.S. states that have approved nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative method of execution. Despite the controversy surrounding this shift, it remains to be seen whether other states will follow suit and adopt nitrogen gas as a means of carrying out the death penalty.
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