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+--- Thread: Anesthesiologist: Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from 'textbook’ (/thread-15355.html)
Anesthesiologist: Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from 'textbook’ - C C - Jan 30, 2024
REFERENCE (wikipedia): Execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith
I’m an anesthesiologist. Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from ‘textbook’
https://www.statnews.com/2024/01/29/kenneth-smith-nitrogen-gas-execution-science-alabama/
EXCERPTS: ... I wanted to be one of those witnesses. I applied to attend as a member of the media, but I was not allowed to watch it firsthand. Alabama Department of Corrections granted me permission to be near the prison, but without a mechanism of direct observation, so I decided not to attend. Instead, I learned the details of Smith’s death by the accounting of the few who were there.
Executions are highly curated events. Direct witnesses to the actual execution must surrender their cellphones, paper, pen, and watch. They can use only memory to record what they see. These policies make it easier for the state to make extraordinary counterclaims about execution events.
[...] There is much I don’t know about what happened. Instead of scientific and medical details of the execution, Alabama chose to share utterly meaningless dietary specifics. No matter. The state, having produced a corpse, declared the execution to have gone exactly as planned and even described it unironically as “textbook.” As no one anywhere in the world had used this technique for execution, I wonder: Where might I find such a textbook?
[...] Alabama claimed in advance that the nitrogen — administered by gas as Smith wore a mask — would lead to unconsciousness in seconds, and death would rapidly follow. Witness accounts, however, tell us that Smith convulsed and gasped with eyes open in terror for minutes. At one point, he was apparently dry heaving and may have vomited.
And that’s as much as we know. The viewing curtain was closed to witnesses before the official time of death, raising the unsettling question of how long it took for Smith to die — some say 22 minutes, though it may have been as long as 28 minutes. Assuming these statements are accurate, which seems to be the case, the state’s claim that this went exactly to plan makes one thing clear: Its intent here was torture... (MORE - missing details)
RE: Anesthesiologist: Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from 'textbook’ - confused2 - Jan 31, 2024
I vaguely remember a film which ended with a gangster (?) being given the (probably) lethal injection. I can't remember how this was made clear but.. the gangster (possibly innocent) .. knew that if he died bravely he might be seen as a hero and inspire others to emulate his bravery (or crimes) so his final 'good act' was to scream 'like a coward' as the injection was administered.
RE: Anesthesiologist: Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from 'textbook’ - Kornee - Jan 31, 2024
That the first one executed via N2 being a whitey was almost certainly driven by PC considerations.
Otherwise, the expectation would be tearful wailing vigils with screaming speeches denouncing institutionalized black victimization (or - victimhood).
Accompanied by nation wide arson/looting riots. Another BLM/Antifa picnic. That MSM would stoke for all it's worth.
That nothing like that happened speaks to the wisdom of 'the system' in this pioneering instance.
RE: Anesthesiologist: Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from 'textbook’ - Zinjanthropos - Jan 31, 2024
(Jan 31, 2024 01:01 AM)confused2 Wrote: I vaguely remember a film which ended with a gangster (?) being given the (probably) lethal injection. I can't remember how this was made clear but.. the gangster (possibly innocent) .. knew that if he died bravely he might be seen as a hero and inspire others to emulate his bravery (or crimes) so his final 'good act' was to scream 'like a coward' as the injection was administered.
Speaking of film, don’t you think this guy looks like Ted Sizemore, Sergeant Horvath in Saving Private Ryan. One of the better execution movies has to be WWI classic Paths of Glory with Kirk Douglas. Military doesn’t wait twenty-thirty years to carry one out. Is what happened to Ken Smith, which seems like one of the most common names in NA, similar to when Percy forgot(?) to wet the sponge in The Green Mile?
Regardless, good riddance to bad rubbish. About the only time I hope there’s a hell.
RE: Anesthesiologist: Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from 'textbook’ - confused2 - Feb 1, 2024
Back in the day (before my time) you could say "You'll hang for this.." as you bled to death. Kind'a promising 10 years (if you are even caught) with every problem taken care of .. maybe 5 years or less if you behave .. doesn't have quite the same ring to it. I vote for the death penalty (in the UK) whenever the opportunity arises.
RE: Anesthesiologist: Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas was far from 'textbook’ - Kornee - Feb 1, 2024
It's amazing how many US 'high tech' executions go awry - beginning with Edison's 'brilliant' electrocution plug intended to vilify the AC system vs his inferior DC system.
Later we had horribly painful cyanide gas chamber execution ordeals, then lethal injection ones.
And now nitrogen. Why bother with bottles of gas, feed tubes, regulators, and masks?
One obvious simpler, cheaper, and more direct method would be to restrict breathing via say a rubber diaphragm strapped over the victim's face.
Simples. Too simples for state authorities it seems. A bit of 'high tech' theater is evidently essential.
Awhile back there was campaigning for painless anesthetizing prior to or directly causing death.
But iirc as one interviewed prison authority put it - "those on death row are here because they caused suffering - why should they go out painlessly".