The Use of Nitrogen Gas for Executions in the United States: Controversy and Debate

Health News Expert - ThePrimeHeadline

November 25, 2024

Right: A 1988 photo of Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted of murdering a preacher's wife. Left: Alabama's lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility, seen in 2002. Alabama Department of Corrections via AP

On January 26, 2024, Kenneth Eugene Smith, a 58-year-old convicted killer, became the first person in the United States to be executed using nitrogen gas. Smith was sentenced to death for his role in the 1988 murder-for-hire plot of a preacher’s wife.
Nitrogen hypoxia is a process where pure nitrogen gas, or nitrogen gas at concentrations high enough to be lethal, is inhaled to the point of causing asphyxiation. Nitrogen makes up about 80% of the air we breathe, and as an inert gas, is not utilized by the body. When nitrogen is inhaled, and carbon dioxide is exhaled, bodily tissues become starved of oxygen. The body then quickly uses up the remaining oxygen within it before shutting down.
Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi have authorized the use of nitrogen hypoxia for capital punishment, but Alabama was the first to carry out an execution using the method. Alabama offered death-row inmates a choice between nitrogen hypoxia and lethal injection. Smith chose nitrogen after he survived an hours long attempt to execute him by lethal injection in 2022.
The execution of Kenneth Smith was carried out at an Alabama prison. Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. after breathing pure nitrogen gas through a face mask. The execution took about 22 minutes from the time between the opening and closing of the curtains. Smith appeared to remain conscious for several minutes.
The execution did not go as planned. Smith appeared to convulse for several minutes after the gas was turned on. Eyewitness statements from reporters present in the death chamber suggested that Smith’s death was not peaceful. Smith writhed and convulsed on the gurney, took deep breaths, his body shaking violently with his eyes rolling in the back of his head.
The use of nitrogen gas for executions has sparked legal and ethical debates. Critics have called it cruel and experimental. The United Nations Human Rights Office and the European Union condemned the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, calling nitrogen hypoxia a “particularly cruel and unusual punishment”.
The potential risks to prison staff and witnesses during a nitrogen gas execution include the risk of oxygen deprivation. Nitrogen gas is so novel an execution method that the risk to workers in the death chamber is unknown.
Other states considering the use of nitrogen gas for executions include Mississippi and Oklahoma, which have authorized the use of nitrogen hypoxia for capital punishment, but neither has a protocol in place like Alabama. Nebraska is also considering a bill that would authorize the use of nitrogen hypoxia.
The use of gas as a method of execution in the United States has historical precedents. However, the use of nitrogen gas is a relatively new alternative to more common forms of capital punishment, like lethal injection and electrocution.
The arguments for and against the claim that nitrogen hypoxia is a humane method of execution are varied. Supporters of the method say it is fast and painless, while critics argue that it could amount to torture and be in violation of human rights treaties.
The challenges and concerns related to the procurement and administration of nitrogen gas for executions include the untested nature of the method, the potential for suffering during the execution, and the risk to workers in the death chamber.
The first use of nitrogen gas for execution in the U.S. has placed the country at the forefront of the debate over capital punishment. The event has sparked widespread scorn and outrage, and has drawn attention from international bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union.
Experts have expressed concerns about the use of nitrogen gas for executions. Dr. Joel Zivot, an associate professor of anesthesiology and surgery at Emory University, said “nitrogen hypoxia” is an invented term not used in the medical community, to his knowledge. He also stated that the method is not humane.
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The public reaction to this method of execution has been mixed. While some see it as a potentially more humane alternative to other methods, others have expressed concern about the untested and potentially cruel nature of the method.
The views of the victim’s family and the executed person’s family or representatives on this method of execution have not been explicitly mentioned in the search results.
The role of the media and public opinion in the discussion of capital punishment is significant. Media coverage of executions and the methods used can influence public opinion and contribute to the ongoing debate about the ethics and legality of capital punishment.
International bodies and foreign perspectives on U.S. death penalty practices have been critical. The United Nations Human Rights Office and the European Union have condemned the use of nitrogen gas for executions.
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FAQs:

Who was the first person executed using nitrogen gas in the US?

Kenneth Eugene Smith, a 58-year-old convicted killer, was the first person in the United States to be executed using nitrogen gas on January 26, 2024.

Which states have authorized the use of nitrogen hypoxia for executions?

Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi have authorized the use of nitrogen hypoxia for capital punishment, but Alabama was the first to carry out an execution using this method.

How long did the execution using nitrogen gas take?

The execution took about 22 minutes from the time between the opening and closing of the curtains in the death chamber.

What were the reactions to this new execution method?

The execution sparked legal and ethical debates, with critics calling it cruel and experimental. The United Nations Human Rights Office and the European Union condemned the execution, describing it as a “particularly cruel and unusual punishment”.

Are there any risks associated with nitrogen gas executions?

There are potential risks to prison staff and witnesses during a nitrogen gas execution, including the risk of oxygen deprivation. The novelty of this execution method means that the full extent of risks to workers in the death chamber is unknown.

How does nitrogen gas compare to other execution methods?

Nitrogen gas is a relatively new alternative to more common forms of capital punishment, such as lethal injection and electrocution. Supporters claim it is fast and painless, while critics argue it could amount to torture and violate human rights treaties.

Are other states considering the use of nitrogen gas for executions?

Yes, Mississippi and Oklahoma have authorized its use but don’t have protocols in place. Nebraska is also considering a bill to authorize the use of nitrogen hypoxia.

What were the observations during Kenneth Smith’s execution?

Eyewitnesses reported that Smith appeared to convulse for several minutes after the gas was turned on. He was seen writhing and convulsing on the gurney, taking deep breaths, with his body shaking violently and his eyes rolling back.

What do medical experts say about nitrogen hypoxia?

Some experts, like Dr. Joel Zivot from Emory University, have expressed concerns about the method. Dr. Zivot stated that “nitrogen hypoxia” is an invented term not used in the medical community and that the method is not humane.