26 April 2006

Human Rights Watch: States negligent in use of lethal injections

To the observer, it looks like a peaceful way to go. But lethal injection has come under fire lately due to evidence that the paralyzing component of the three-drug cocktail might simply hide the fact that a prisoner might be experiencing excruciating pain during execution.

The excellent organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has just released a 65-page report on problems with the use of lethal injection in executions in the U.S.

According to HRW, "incompetence, negligence, and irresponsibility by U.S. states puts condemned prisoners at needless risk of excruciating pain during lethal injection."

There are some who say that the criminals on death row deserve to suffer a painful death. However, the fact remains that the Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

[Read more on the HRW site.]

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