Intricacy of Lethal Injection: Mechanism of Action

I just discovered that most people have little or no clue on the workings of lethal injection as a tool in the hand of the law. I ll not delve into the legal perspective of lethal injection, as it is beyond the scope of this blog.

As it is, once the convicted lie on the gurney, awaiting the flow of the lethal injection dose down his vein, 3 principal mechanisms take place.

ANAESTHESIA
 Intravenous injection involving a set of sequential, step-by-step administration of different anaesthetic agents (like thiopental or pentobarbital), is allowed into the veins of the convict. The agents is meant to reduce pain, and significantly decrease breathing. This is when the convict drift into sleep or unconsciousness.

PARALYSIS
 Next, paralytic agents, like pancuronium bromide, is let into the veins of the unconscious criminal. This induces paralysis of muscles and lungs, which ultimately stops his breathing in a respiratory arrest. This could lead to death by asphyxiation, if the third drug is not given.

CARDIAC ARREST
 Potassium chloride is the next drug component to be injected. It practically stops the pumping action of the heart. This happens because the chemical surge distorts the electrical activity of the heart; effectively causing death in not more than 10minutes.

This is used as capital punishments in some jurisdictions and it is legal to subject a deserving criminal to such path of death. There are still some gray areas surrounding this lethal injection, no thanks to the New York doctor who proposed it's use, claiming that it would be cheaper than hanging!!
However, about 50years later, it was Jay Chapman, Oklahoma's State medical examiner, who proposed this "less painful" execution method.

I am still not too sure if this is humane enough, but the law is the law. Now you know!