This paper aims to provide a “nuts and bolts” explanation and depiction of the medical and scientific mechanics of lethal injection. Most of the source information derives from material produced during litigation in which the author served, or is serving, as an expert witness for plaintiffs who are litigating in civil court to remedy perceived deficiencies in the lethal injection procedures employed by various state departments of corrections. Of note, the author has in the past and will in the future receive compensation for many, but not all, of these legal cases. Further, it is important to recognize that some of the data and documentation that has been reviewed by the author and that contributes to the author’s opinions has been placed under seal by court orders. Lastly, the author believes in the importance of disclosing that, as a result of his involvement in the legal challenges to lethal injection, he has developed a strong opposition to the imposition of the death penalty as it is presently administered in the United States.
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References
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At present all but one of the 38 death penalty states, and the federal and military judicial systems, employ lethal injection as either the sole method of execution or, in the cases of some states that were late to adopt, as one of the methods available to be chosen by the condemned prisoner.
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Heath, M. (2007). The Medicalization of Execution: Lethal Injection in the United States. In: Greifinger, R.B. (eds) Public Health Behind Bars. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71695-4_7
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