Controversial execution in Ohio uses new drug combination

cnn ^ | 1/16/14 | Dana Ford and Ashley Fantz

[bestintxas]

Ohio inmate Dennis McGuire appeared to gasp and convulse for roughly 10 minutes before he finally died Thursday during his execution by lethal injection using a new combination of drugs, reporters who witnessed it said.

He was convicted in 1994 of the rape and murder of 22-year-old Joy Stewart, who was seven months pregnant. Her relatives were at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville to witness his death, according to tweets from television reporter Sheila Gray.

McGuire's "children and daughter-in-law were crying and visibly upset," Gray tweeted.

Killer executed in Ohio A Dayton Daily News reporter who also watched the execution said that before the drugs took effect, McGuire thanked Stewart's family for a letter he apparently got. "I'm sorry," McGuire reportedly said.

The convicted murderer was pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m. ET,

The execution generated controversy because, like many states, Ohio has been forced to find new drug protocols after European-based manufacturers banned U.S. prisons from using their drugs in executions -- among them, Danish-based Lundbeck, which manufactures pentobarbital.

The state used a combination of the drugs midazolam, a sedative; and the painkiller hydromorphone, the state corrections department told CNN.

In an opinion piece written for CNN earlier this week, a law professor noted that McGuire's attorneys argued he would "suffocate to death in agony and terror."

[Pearls Before Swine]

As a Veterinarian, we use a two injection method, and it goes very smoothly.

I assume you're talking about medium-sized mammals--dogs. Out of curiosity, if you don't mind, what is that method?

[boop]

"On April 30, 2012, King published an article in The Daily Beast calling for rich Americans, including himself, to pay more taxes, citing it as "a practical necessity and moral imperative that those who have received much should be obligated to pay ... in the same proportion"."

Not sure if this is the same article, but he has been quoted as saying "What do I need another $20 million for?"

Rich people should not say things like that.

Mr. King, you are rich, by the labors of your hard work. As far as I know, you didn't steal or cheat to attain your wealth.

So, if YOU decide that you don't "need another $20 million", well, DONATE it, or set up scholarships or start a school, endow a library.

But don't cry your phony baloney crocodile tears about how you are just NOT being taxed enough.

Many people out here in the hinterlands ARE taxed, and plenty.

[WMarshal]

Awesome post! It points out the hypocrisy of Europe in just one sentence.

[Bigg Red]

“McGuire’s children and daughter-in-law were crying and visibly upset”

***
I am sure they would have been crying no matter how the murderer died. Their thoughts were surely with the way she suffered at the hands of this subhuman.

Maybe the media would prefer that the poor demoniac was killed in the same manner that he used on the victim.

[trisham]

I could not agree more!

[NorthMountain]

I’m sure that’s true, but my point still stands. The required amount of dry nitrogen will cost less than the required amount of dry helium. AND ... I hate wasting valuable helium on some murdering scumbag.

[Pollster1]

An even simpler method....straight helium.

Helium first - then the rapist/murderer's final words.

[SeminoleCounty]

Criminal Rights Nazis never seem to care of the pain and suffering of the victims of crime

Death Penalty opponents are the most depraved folks around. No compassion for the victims, total compassion for the criminal.

And, the Death Penalty Opponents/Criminal Rights Nazis never attack the justice system when there is a wrongful conviction...only the Death Penalty

[vetvetdoug]

There are several methods. One is to use a tranquilizer and Butorphanol, wait ten minutes and then administer the sodium pentobarbital. Second is to use a benzodiazepine in combination with ketamine and then follow it ten to fifteen minutes later with sodium pentobarbital or a bolus of KCl. If one is worried about the way it looks one could administer succinylcholine before the bolus of KCl. Third would be to use a phenothiazine in combination with ketamine followed in ten minutes by succinylcholine, KCL, sodium pentobarbital,or a bullet. Fourth would be to use the tranquilizer and ketamine followed in ten minutes by pure NO2. Any combination of the above would be effective. I really don't understand why there is so much controversy about the protocol. One could set an IV and use propofol bolus and kill the person and the person would be out completely. There are dozens of ways to accomplish a euthanasia or an execution that would be humane.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***gasp and convulse for roughly 10 minutes before he finally died***

***All who feel sorry for this poor guy’s death of agony please feel free to contribute response. ****

Boo hoo hoo! They could have used a dose of nicotine sulfide (Black Leaf 40)and nailed him in six seconds as I saw a horse put down with it.

Then hanging ain’t out of style. Ball peen hammer to the back of the head works well. .22 to the same spot, that is if you can find any .22 shells.

[oldasrocks]

I’d prefer to turn the condemned man over to the family of the lady killed to do with as they want. No reporters allowed.

[muir_redwoods]

You have any problem with an IV of Liquid Plumbr?

[Pearls Before Swine]

Thanks for the detailed info.

I kinda like the nitrogen idea, because it’s quick. I’d forgotten about propofol—poor Michael Jackson showed that it results in deep and restful sleep with a thin margin of error.

The others sound rather complicated—several steps, and timing (although that’s ok for the condemned).

I thought you were going to tell me what was actually used to put down aging animals in veterinary practice. Those protocols sound more detailed than what I’d expect.

[Bon of Babble]

Oh, Thank God. I kept hearing the execution was delayed this morning on my way to work — I was sure they’d find some idiot to STAY the execution.

Just found out he got exactly what he should have gotten soon after committing this crime - the only sin here (besides the murder itself) is how long it took to finally get justice for the family of Joy Stewart and her unborn baby.

[vetvetdoug]

I’ve used a couple of those ways for animal euthanasia in practice. Sometimes it gets hard to procure certain drugs so we have to get inventive in the ways to humanely and compassionately put animals to sleep. The least we can do is let them go with some dignity.

[ctdonath2]

Yup. Cost is about $0.25, and delivered right is in fact painless.

[ctdonath2]

I’m thinking a belt sander would be cheap and appropriate. Or a deli slicer.

[Red Badger]

Why not just use pure LEAD

Tsk, tsk, tsk.....Don't you know that LEAD is a deadly poison and the EPA is trying to ban its use?................

[a fool in paradise]

Why do they swab the condemned man's arm with an alcohol swab on a cotton ball before injection? Are they worried about him getting an infection?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Gotta make sure the dead guy stays healthy!