home

Ohio To Switch To One Drug For Executions

By Jeralyn, Section Death Penalty
Posted on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 07:00:51 PM EST
Tags: executions, lethal injection (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Ohio announced today it will switch from the three drug cocktail for lethal injections to administering a single drug, thiopental sodium.

Thiopental sodium, an anesthetic, is used to euthanize animals. "Ohio will be the first state in the U.S. to use the one-drug procedure," which was recommended by Dr. Mark Dershwitz, a professor of anesthesiology at the U. Mass Medical Center. In 205, Dr. Dershwitz recommended a single dose of pentobarbital. The problem, he said, was that it could take up to a half-hour for the heart to stop. [More...]

Ohio will have a backup plan:

The backup method involves an injection with a needle into a large muscle such as the arm or upper thigh. It was described as "much like a flu shot." One of the drugs to be used is Dilaudid, a commonly used painkiller.

The new procedure will be ready for implementation on November 30.

< Guantanamo Turns Eight Years Old Today | Getting Acquainted With the 9/11 Defendants >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Ohio To Switch To One Drug For Executions | 3 comments (3 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    was dr. dershwitz (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by cpinva on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 02:22:58 AM EST
    In 205, Dr. Dersh