Euthanasia and US lethal injection

[DulwichFox]

Today a British guy ended his life in Dignitas Switzerland. It was witnessed by 4 friends one of which

described the event as their friend drinking a lethal cocktail (Barbituates) and then going to sleep peacefully.

'smiling'

My question is not about this process but why in the US people put to death by lethal injection are strapped

down and suffer several (15) mins in which they die in agony.

Is this a deliberate act of cruelty when a more humane process is available.

DulwichFox

[Jah Lush]

Good point, well made.

[stringvest]

Humane? but do they deserve the same peaceful deaths? Someone who is terminally ill perhaps deserves a painless peaceful death whereas some torturing rapist serial killer doesn't surely?

In America a man working in a pharmacy was shot in the head and killed after being threatened for hours and failing to be able to open the safe ? The offender now on death row ... I wonder if the pharmacists widow and children want him to go off on a high with a smile on his face?

What about those girls locked in the dark cellar for TEN YEARS, abused etc, and came out blind. 15 minutes of suffering isn't enough is it? Thanks

[Seabag]

Perhaps its the 'death sentence' rather than the assisted suicide the Americans like the idea of

Either way I think it is perverse, the state 'killing' of killers, which ever way it's done

It's my personal view, you may or not share

Lock 'em up, throw away the keys etc

[stringvest]

Hmmm, but to lock up people for ever has been branded inhumane also. There is a bit of a to do over it in the European court of Human Rights with convicted terrorists - that "no chance of parole" is wrong? And there is the cost, why should all the law abiding pay millions to support the worst in our society, so they are given a clean bed, three meals a day, a snooker table, law degrees, computer games ,,,, whilst an ex-serviceman or other poor soul isn't?

Whilst I am asking some rational people here ... what of sex offenders and trying to rehabilitate them? Im not sure its possible to change someones sexuality, thats what they are. It would be a ridiculous suggestion to say that homosexuals could be changed, so why do we think paedophiles can change?

[Loz]

When a justice system is totally infallible then and only then could you even begin to have something as absolute as a death penalty.

I've always thought that the real test of death penalty support would be a guarantor system, where before the death penalty could be invoked, one person must step forward and nominate themselves as guarantor and be required to push the button to initiate the execution. Should the original conviction be later overturned then the guarantor would then be instantly deemed guilty of murder.

I bet that all the people who think the death penalty is a good idea would suddenly have a change of heart when asked for their life to be on the line as well. Should pretty much end support for the death penalty overnight.

[stringvest]

??? then you would need another guarantor to be the original guarantor's guarantor when they are put to death for murder ???

[Loz]

Possibly. Or the second penalty could just be a mandatory life imprisonment.