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Three top nitrogen gas manufacturers in US bar products from use in executions (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Move follows Alabama’s recent killing of death row inmate Kenneth Smith using previously untested method

Three of the largest manufacturers of medical-grade nitrogen gas in the US have barred their products from being used in executions, following Alabama’s recent killing of the death row inmate Kenneth Smith using a previously untested method known as nitrogen hypoxia.

The three companies have confirmed to the Guardian that they have put in place mechanisms that will prevent their nitrogen cylinders falling into the hands of departments of correction in death penalty states. The move by the trio marks the first signs of corporate action to stop medical nitrogen, which is designed to preserve life, being used for the exact opposite – killing people.

The green shoots of a corporate blockade for nitrogen echoes the almost total boycott that is now in place for medical drugs used in lethal injections. That boycott has made it so difficult for death penalty states to procure drugs such as pentobarbital and midazolam that a growing number are turning to nitrogen as an alternative killing technique.

Now, nitrogen producers are engaging in their own efforts to prevent the abuse of their products. The march has been led by Airgas, which is owned by the French multinational Air Liquide.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yeah the mask and timing is what caused that one prisoner to be in so much suffering since he knew it was going to happen imminently so he held his breath.

If it were done gradually over a period of like 30 minutes, he likely wouldn't have noticed and just drifted into unconsciousness.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Or put the mask on then switch it to N2 without him knowing when.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

A lot more difficult to do without him noticing and the "feared" mask on his face and potential to vomit into the mask would still be an issue.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah the room option is better in that regard.

It would need to have some hardware interlocks engineered though for safety reasons. After turning on the gas, you won't be able to physically open the door until the ventilation system removes the nitrogen after the execution.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

You could do that although N2 gas is not that dangerous. Just opening a door to a well ventilated room will get rid of the gas. It is not poisonous or anything. Its not like you are doing this every week that you get lax about procedure.