Nitrogen Hypoxia: What You Need to Know About This New Method of Execution

Alabama will be the first state to use nitrogen during an execution. If all goes well, other states will likely follow.
The state of Alabama's planned execution of a death row inmate Thursday evening will go ahead according to a procedure that has never been used for capital punishment in the United States.
Inmate Kenneth Smith, who was convicted of a stabbing murder in 1988, will be put to death by inhalation of nitrogen gas, a method known as nitrogen hypoxia.
Supporters of the method say it is quick and painless. But earlier this month, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Alabama to stop the execution, saying it could amount to torture and violate international treaties. to human rights that the United States has accepted.
Alabama would be the first state to use nitrogen hypoxia, but other states are interested in using this method.
What is nitrogen hypoxia?
Hypoxia is a medical term for a condition of "insufficient oxygen in the body. Nitrogen, a colorless and odorless gas, makes up about 78% of the air humans inhale. But with the nitrogen hypoxia method, the person breathes only nitrogen , which leads in a few minutes to loss of consciousness then to death from lack of oxygen.
How will nitrogen be administered?
According to the protocol released by Alabama prison officials, members of the "execution team" will strap Mr. Smith to a gurney in the state's execution chamber in Atmore. A mask will be placed on his head and nitrogen will be released, depriving him of oxygen. Many experts compare this process to putting a plastic bag over a person's head, although in this situation the person would be inhaling carbon dioxide rather than nitrogen.
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Health Jan 27, 2024 0 24 Add to Reading List

Nitrogen Hypoxia: What You Need to Know About This New Method of Execution

Alabama will be the first state to use nitrogen during an execution. If all goes well, other states will likely follow.

The state of Alabama's planned execution of a death row inmate Thursday evening will go ahead according to a procedure that has never been used for capital punishment in the United States.

Inmate Kenneth Smith, who was convicted of a stabbing murder in 1988, will be put to death by inhalation of nitrogen gas, a method known as nitrogen hypoxia.

Supporters of the method say it is quick and painless. But earlier this month, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Alabama to stop the execution, saying it could amount to torture and violate international treaties. to human rights that the United States has accepted.

Alabama would be the first state to use nitrogen hypoxia, but other states are interested in using this method.

What is nitrogen hypoxia?

Hypoxia is a medical term for a condition of "insufficient oxygen in the body. Nitrogen, a colorless and odorless gas, makes up about 78% of the air humans inhale. But with the nitrogen hypoxia method, the person breathes only nitrogen , which leads in a few minutes to loss of consciousness then to death from lack of oxygen.

How will nitrogen be administered?

According to the protocol released by Alabama prison officials, members of the "execution team" will strap Mr. Smith to a gurney in the state's execution chamber in Atmore. A mask will be placed on his head and nitrogen will be released, depriving him of oxygen. Many experts compare this process to putting a plastic bag over a person's head, although in this situation the person would be inhaling carbon dioxide rather than nitrogen.

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