Alan Miller shook and trembled on gurney after becoming second person to be executed by controversial technique
Alabama has carried out the second execution in the US using the controversial method of nitrogen gas, an experimental technique for humans that veterinarians have deemed unacceptable in the US and Europe for the euthanasia of most animals.
Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was pronounced dead on Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison. The lethal method involves being strapped to a gurney, where a respirator mask is applied to the face and pure nitrogen piped in. The resulting oxygen deprivation will cause death by asphyxia.
Miller shook and trembled on the gurney for about two minutes with his body at times pulling against the restraints, followed by about six minutes of gasping breathing, according to the Associated Press.
Miller’s death is the latest in an extraordinary week in the US in which five condemned men in five states are set to be killed over six days. Three prisoners have already been executed – on Friday South Carolina killed Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah in its first execution in 13 years, then on Tuesday Texas killed Travis Mullis and Missouri put to death Marcellus Williams.
The goal is torture.
“Pro life”…
There’s lots of people arguing that you require a cooperative person. But you could just put the person to sleep with an injection first, then strap them to the gurney, then slide them into a tank and just pump stuff in and stuff out. I think it’s the cruelty that keeps it cruel. Those people in charge are as heartless as the cop waiting by the 20mph sign next to the school that happens to have been placed next to the freeway entrance.17mph, you’re good, 21mph… are you white? If not you’re getting a ticket. It’s best done right in front of your own kids. Cruelty is what it is all about.
The problem with that is, no anesthesiologist will work on an execution (something about “do no harm”), and properly sedating someone without one is more difficult than it appears to be.
Probably not that hard if you don’t care if the patient survives.
¯\(ツ)/¯
So does B make this basically a non-starter? Seems like you’re never going to get someone to cooperate with this (not that I blame them).
Yep. It’s fine for euthanasia but humane execution is impossible because of the extreme drive to survive in humans.
So the problem being they’re probably holding their breath which keeps the c02 in which causes the panic and fighting.
No, the cruelty is the point, as per standard procedure. The people who do this sort of shit enjoy killing people and the fucked up US “justice” system lets them do it legally.
If we’re going to kill people, which we shouldn’t, why not be humane about it and use a firing squad?
There is no humane way, they all fuck up. Most people who actually support the death penalty want recipients to suffer.
Agreed, but firing squad seems to be the closest to humane.
The executed died quickly, and the executors don’t know for certain that they had a bullet.
I would say guillotine would be closest. Even an entire squad shooting at you could potentially miss your heart.
I think they found extreme PTSD in the executioners that used that method.
You don’t know if you killed them or not, a lot of times. That will gnaw at people who aren’t okay with killing, especially in such a cold and sterile way.
Plus, it isn’t always quick.
