Maker of anesthetic used in executions is discontinuing drug

[gateley]

Death penalty states could face long-term complications after the move by the only U.S. manufacturer of sodium thiopental. California may have to revise laws governing its three-injection protocol.

The sole U.S. maker of the anesthetic used in executions announced Friday it would stop manufacturing sodium thiopental to prevent its product from being used to put prisoners to death.

Discontinuance of the drug that has been in short supply nationwide for the past year portends long-term complications for death penalty states. Some, like California, might have to revise laws governing executions and those seeking supplies from foreign makers may be turned away by countries that condemn capital punishment.

In California, the legal guidance for carrying out executions was amended in August after three years of debate and deliberation. The state's new protocols specify use of sodium thiopental as the first drug in the three-injection sequence, and any substitution would require the state to again revise the protocols, said Elisabeth Semel, a UC Berkeley law professor and director of the law school's Death Penalty Clinic. /snip

more>>>>>> http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-execution-drug-20110122,0,5035954.story?om_rid=DiK05X&om_mid=_BNOuxIB8XljW1e

[notadmblnd]

1. If one is going to be in the business of putting people down

They need to see the ugliness of the deed when they do it. Death by hanging, firing squad or electric chair I imagine, is not a pretty site. I would imagine it would leave a mark on most people witnessing something like that. No, simply giving an injection and watching someone go to sleep permanently lets the executioner off too easily in my opinion.

[Very_Boring_Name]

3. They're not in the business of "putting people down," sodium thiopental is an anesthetic

it was never intended to be used in executions.

[notadmblnd]

4. You mean to tell me that those working for the penal system in states

that have the death sentence are not in the business of putting people down? I wasn't talking about the people that produce the drug.

[Very_Boring_Name]

6. Sorry my bad, I thought you were talking about the company that produces the drug

[gateley]

9. I used to work for that company -- in North Carolina -- and it's the most

horrible company I've ever worked for.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

2. Sounds like a market opening...

Anyone here want in on the ground floor of a new pharmaceutical company? :grouphug:

Thiopental synthesis:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Jjc7KYWZdOYC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=sodium+thiopental+synthesis&source=bl&ots=qP9hNS4Jbw&sig=AaQkP8Hp-zj6TIMLzjsPsx6tH44&hl=en&ei=vgk7Tef0C4OclgeD2ZX6Bg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

[gateley]

5. Reading the rest of the article, I see it was manufactured at the company where

I used to work! Another reason to hate them!

And initially I thought 'isn't that nice, a company with a soul', but again, reading further, it's because they were unable to get permission to manufacture in Italy without the assurance their product wouldn't be used in executions. They couldn't guarantee that, so just got out of the biz, saying they couldn't afford to have Italy come after them if their product got into the wrong hands. So, as always, a bottom-line concern, nothing more.

Kind of like when Nordstrom stopped selling fur and everybody was singing their praises for doing the right thing, but Nordstrom says uh, no, it's because sales have dropped and it's not profitable to keep fur departments in our stores.

I understand that a publicly traded company is mandated to make a profit for its shareholders, but I often wonder about the PEOPLE in these companies. Do they not have souls?

Hospira doesn't, I can tell you that from firsthand experience.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. That was my thought

As long as it is not still under patent, just about any chemical house could replicate it.

[Maine_Nurse]

11. I hope someone keeps making it...

It has some valuable uses and is one of the "Core Medications" (a must have list) for medical facilities in developing nations, medical missions, etc, etc, etc as it is relatively inexpensive and well-understood.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. As I understand it, its manufacture is still on going in Italy but it will not allow it

to be exported for execution purposes

[NaturalHigh]

8. I doubt it will make much difference.

Oklahoma's last execution was carried out without it.

[LeftishBrit]

10. Glad to hear that.