Post by SoulTrainOz on Jul 19, 2006 8:08:33 GMT -5
execution protocol
The state's proposed execution procedures don't fix some of the problems identified in a federal judge's order to make sweeping changes to how Missouri executes death-row inmates, an attorney for condemned prisoner Michael Taylor said.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. on Monday gave Taylor's attorneys until July 24 to file their opposition in court.
"The state's submission does not comply with the court's June 26 order and fails to remedy many of the serious problems identified by the district court," Washington attorney Eric Berger told The Associated Press.
"Most notably, as the state concedes, its proposal fails to include a board-certified anesthesiologist. The state's submission also provides inadequate detail on several points."
Late Friday, the state of Missouri told Gaitan in court documents that it cannot meet his demand to hire a board-certified anesthesiologist to assist in executing prisoners by lethal injection because it cannot find one.
The state said it would substitute other medical personnel instead. That would address the court's concerns that prisoners be "sufficiently unconscious" from the 1st drug, an anesthetic, before 2 subsequent drugs to paralyze the prisoner and stop his heart, are administered, the state said.
Gaitan, ruling in the Taylor case, halted executions last month until he is convinced that the state's procedures posed no risk of pain and suffering.
Gaitan wants an anesthesiologist to mix the drugs, administer them or observe those who do and determine and monitor the inmate's level of consciousness, either by being in the execution room or with the help of monitoring equipment.
The judge has expressed concerns that a surgeon, who says he is dyslexic, had much discretion and worked under no written protocol in mixing the lethal drugs and overseeing executions, despite his lack of training in anesthesiology.
It was unclear if Gaitan would accept the state's proposal.
(source: Associated Press)
The state's proposed execution procedures don't fix some of the problems identified in a federal judge's order to make sweeping changes to how Missouri executes death-row inmates, an attorney for condemned prisoner Michael Taylor said.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. on Monday gave Taylor's attorneys until July 24 to file their opposition in court.
"The state's submission does not comply with the court's June 26 order and fails to remedy many of the serious problems identified by the district court," Washington attorney Eric Berger told The Associated Press.
"Most notably, as the state concedes, its proposal fails to include a board-certified anesthesiologist. The state's submission also provides inadequate detail on several points."
Late Friday, the state of Missouri told Gaitan in court documents that it cannot meet his demand to hire a board-certified anesthesiologist to assist in executing prisoners by lethal injection because it cannot find one.
The state said it would substitute other medical personnel instead. That would address the court's concerns that prisoners be "sufficiently unconscious" from the 1st drug, an anesthetic, before 2 subsequent drugs to paralyze the prisoner and stop his heart, are administered, the state said.
Gaitan, ruling in the Taylor case, halted executions last month until he is convinced that the state's procedures posed no risk of pain and suffering.
Gaitan wants an anesthesiologist to mix the drugs, administer them or observe those who do and determine and monitor the inmate's level of consciousness, either by being in the execution room or with the help of monitoring equipment.
The judge has expressed concerns that a surgeon, who says he is dyslexic, had much discretion and worked under no written protocol in mixing the lethal drugs and overseeing executions, despite his lack of training in anesthesiology.
It was unclear if Gaitan would accept the state's proposal.
(source: Associated Press)