this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2024
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Ohio politicians may be poised to consider whether the state might break its unofficial moratorium on the death penalty by following Alabama in using nitrogen gas to execute inmates.

Ohio hasn’t executed anyone since 2018. In 2020, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine declared lethal injection “no longer an option,” citing a federal judge’s ruling that the protocol could cause inmates “severe pain and needless suffering.”

Republican state Attorney General Dave Yost scheduled a news conference Tuesday to discuss “next steps to kickstart” Ohio’s capital punishment system. He has expressed support for the nitrogen gas method used for the first time in Alabama last week, when convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, was put to death with nitrogen gas administered through a face mask to deprive him of oxygen.

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[–] chknbwl 30 points 9 months ago (4 children)

The execution took about 22 minutes from the time between the opening and closing of curtains to the viewing room. Smith seemed to remain conscious for several minutes. For at least two minutes, he appeared to shake and writhe on the gurney, sometimes pulling against the restraints

The execution could hardly be considered a success. The mask wasn't sealed properly to his face and allowed oxygen to be inhaled as well. Nitrogen-execution requires a complete lack of other trace gasses to effectively asphyxiate without pain. This man suffered the equivalent of drowning for 22 minutes.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

this is so unacceptable and quite frankly makes me wonder if it was intentional by someone like corroded who wanted suffering. inert gas is the easiest way to have death without suffering.

[–] Cogency 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

They have had a long history of misadministering the lethal injection method, making that "painless death" inconceivably painful. It's why the medical community refuses to be a part of producing or helping the death penalty machine perform lethal injections anymore.

It's also why a mechanical "painless death" is being so propagandized now. Those supporting executions will find a way to make criminals suffer with any death penalty. The cruelty is the point, which is unconstitutional.

[–] NatakuNox 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Why do people keep speculating on the reason it took a reported 22 minutes? It's more likely that asphyxiation regardless of the method implemented is a poor way to execute people. I'm aware of the science behind using this gas but it's never been used in this specific way. Now we are trying to say the mask wasn't sealed around his face? What about the small traces of oxygen already in his lungs? What happens when his body switches over to anaerobic metabolic functions to try to keep the body alive. Probably the seizure like convulsions they saw. Acting as if this is a sound way to kill people but it "just needs to be done properly" is laughable at best. First, states that love executions don't really care about getting it right. All the other forms of execution were said to be painless and quick when done "right". Second, the humane execution came about for the executioner not for the condemned. The person turning on the gas wants to go home and think they just made the person slip into death peacefully. But the reality is killing is killing. Humanity only knows of one fullprof way for a painless death. Severing the brain instantly.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

there have been plenty of accidental inert gas suffications and use with animals to know how it works and yes it was the mask. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inert_gas_asphyxiation

[–] NatakuNox 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

This will inevitably come out to be not accurate for human executions. And it's sickening to think about the number of victims will be tortured before the courts put a stop to it. Once again theirs a difference between none sentient animals unknowingly asphyxiating or a terminally ill person who's on other drugs to make the transition easy. But go on. This idea is no different than what was found about lethal injection, the electric chair, and the first gas chamber. (people were adamant about those being quick and painless until the glaring evidence became to large to wave off by animal experiments.) Sad to see so many people not have a sceptical eye on how the government chooses to kill people.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The accidents were humans. it was the mask with the prisoner for sure in this case. don't get me wrong. executions just should not happen but this is as humane as you get. this is how I would go out to avoid the end stages of a horrible disease.

[–] Cogency 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Except the more you resist it, the more you suffer. If you hold your breath there is not enough time to displace the gas contents of you lungs and bloodstream. Your body will be full of the toxic and suffocating co2 gas and you will drown for 22 minutes like the guy executed clearly did.

[–] Kbobabob -2 points 9 months ago

If I recall correctly, he was holding his breathe as long as he could. That would tend to make you behave this way.