Is activists’ favourite suicide drug “torturous”?
Controversy over Oklahoma execution
It is unlikely to derail activists, but the
drug of choice for assisted suicide activists is being described as “untested,
[and] potentially dangerous, and could well result in a torturous execution” of
an Oklahoma man on death row. The state has run out of thiopental sodium, which
is used for lethal injections in the US. Hence it want to use pentobarbital –
also known as Nembutal – which is used for putting down animals. But John David
Duty’s lawyers claim that this could constitute cruel and unusual punishment. It
may not thoroughly anaesthetise prisoners and may cause them severe pain.
This puts an interesting twist on
euthanasia rhetoric. “I wouldn’t let a dog suffer like that” is a familiar
argument for assisted suicide activists like Philip Nitschke, of Exit
International, or Ludwig Minelli, of Dignitas. So they offer their clients Nembutal.
Now, however, it turns out, Nembutal might make you suffer like the proverbial dog.
~ Wall
Street Journal, Nov 9
Michael Cook
assisted suicide
capital punishment
euthanasia
Nembutal
- How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
- House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
- Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021
More Stories
After 49 years, SCOTUS strikes down Roe v Wade, abolishing a constitutional right to abortion
The US Supreme Court has struck down two of the most famous decisions in American history, Roe v. Wade and...
Fallen stem cell hero convicted in Swedish court
Once hailed as a stem cell technology pioneer, Italian surgeon Paolo Macchiarini has been convicted of causing bodily harm and...
Hollywood actress explains why she chose surrogacy: ‘I was terrified’
Hollywood starlet Jamie Chung, 39, surprised her fans last year when she and her husband announced the birth of twins....
First legal assisted suicide in Italy
Italy’s parliament is still debating the details of legal assisted suicide. However, last Thursday the first Italian to take advantage...
Re-examining autonomy
The buzzword cutting through the noisy controversy over the US Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade is “reproductive autonomy”....
World swimming authority takes conservative stand on gender inclusion
Swimming's world governing body, FINA, has backed a new policy on gender inclusion which will stop most trans women swimmers...