sedative Oklahoma used to execute a death row inmate that is commonly used to euthanize animals could become more popular because of a nationwide shortage of a key ingredient in several states' lethal injection formulas, death penalty experts say.
John David Duty is believed to be the first person in the United States whose execution included the use of pentobarbital. The 58-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
Oklahoma and several other states traditionally have used the barbiturate sodium thiopental to put an inmate to sleep, followed by two other drugs — pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes muscles, and potassium chloride, which stops the heart.
But Hospira Inc. — the only U.S. manufacturer of sodium thiopental — said Thursday new batches of the drug could be available ``in the first quarter'' of next year. They blamed the shortage on problems with its raw-material providers.
``It's a little uncertain if sodium thiopental will be available, so the states will be looking at what's happening in Oklahoma,'' said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. ``If it works reasonably well, other states might go that way.''
Oklahoma prisons spokesman Jerry Massie said after the execution that there did not appear to be any problems with the new drug.
Strapped to a gurney and wearing an eye patch over his right eye, the heavyset Duty apologized to his victim's family.
``I hope one day you'll be able to forgive me, not for my sake, but for your own,'' Duty said. ``Thank you, Lord Jesus. I'm ready to go home.''
The lethal drugs began to flow at 6:12 p.m., and Duty's breathing became laboured one minute later. At 6:15 p.m., he appeared to stop breathing and the colour began to drain from his face.
Duty and two other death-row inmates had challenged the state's decision to use pentobarbital, arguing it could be inhumane because a person could be paralyzed but still aware when a painful third drug is administered to stop the heart. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling against the other two inmates. Duty did not take part in the appeal.
Executions have been delayed in California, Arkansas, Tennessee and Maryland as a result of protocol changes, including the use of new drugs, Dieter said. In Ohio and Washington, laws were passed to allow for the use of sodium thiopental specifically, he said.
But Oklahoma's law calls for the use of a fast-acting barbiturate to be administered first, which gave the state the flexibility to use pentobarbital, Massie said.DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.