Looking for a Humane Method of Execution Dead

U.S. to use seven different methods of execution

Three-drug combination used by many U.S. states in the execution of offenders sometimes are not always effective because it is considered painful. Whether using the new method will silence the critics?

On August 1 this year, Ronald Smith should die.

He was sentenced to death by the state of Montana for two murders he did more than 30 years ago. But after three decades awaiting execution and multiple execution schedule is delayed, is now the legal changeshave led to a longer delay.

This challenge is not related to crimes committed Smith, but the methods to be used to end the state of his life.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which brought the case, claiming that the three-drug protocol used in the execution ofMontana can cause unnecessary suffering.

Designed by anesthesiologist Stanley Deutsch as an "extremely humane" to end his life, his method should work quickly and painlessly.

Chemical burns

But some recent cases of drug injection method of execution by the painful trigger debate about the value of this method.

Used in Texas since the first timein 1982, a method called three-drug cocktail, a standard methodof execution in the U.S..

The first medication, barbiturates, central nervous system shut down, and makes inmates unconscious.

The second drug paralyzing the respiratory muscles and stop theinmates. The third, potassium chloride, stops the heart rate.

This method is declared as a substitute for a more humane way to turn off the gas and the electric chair.

But critics were skeptical.

"It is impossible to understand what this drug in humans," said Deborah Denno, a law professor from Fordham University in New York.

"They may be unconscious [by the first drug] to shout, or they are in pain, but can not do anything because the nerve is locked by the second drug."

Execution fails

After two hours, stopped the execution of Rommel Broom Execution of Angel Diaz in Florida on December 14, 2006 watu takes 34 minutes, and re-injection to complete.

The witnesses reported Diaz execution "wheezing" and "face the pain" during the procedure.

Autopsy later found the presence of chemical burns on Diaz's arms, where the needle is injected into the veins and thin tissue.

Jeb Bush, governor of Florida at the time, to temporarily suspendall executions in the next day.

Based on the report, the inmate is likely died of "breathing difficulties" caused by the drug lock-nerve, and he may experience a "burning sensation caused by potassium."

Team of attorneys and health experts who wrote the report concluded, "The conventional view of lethal injection can make the process of dying peacefully and painlessly, is now questioned."

In 2009, after two hours trying to execute Rommel Broom with acocktail of three drugs, Ohio became the first state to changethe procedure of a single dose of anesthetic.

Execution team a hard time finding the right vein to inject the drug. After 18 injections, shereturned to the cell and has not executed again.

After Ohio, other states followed.

Although 24 of the 33 U.S. statesthat impose the death penalty still use the three-drug protocol,five states are now using a single drug, and four others announced their intention to switch to lethal injection of drugs.

"In the last two years, we have seen many changes in the protocol lethal injection of drugs throughout history," said Prof. Denno.

States that refuse to change their method of explaining why.