Alabama calls nitrogen execution method painless and humane, but critics are raising doubts
apnews.com
Alabama intends to put a man to death with nitrogen gas this week unless stopped by the courts. It would be the first execution attempt with the method in the United States.

Alabama, unless stopped by the courts, intends to strap Kenneth Eugene Smith to a gurney Thursday and use a gas mask to replace breathable air with nitrogen, depriving him of oxygen, in the nation’s first execution attempt with the method.

The Alabama attorney general’s office told federal appeals court judges last week that nitrogen hypoxia is “the most painless and humane method of execution known to man.” But what exactly Smith, 58, will feel after the warden switches on the gas is unknown, some doctors and critics say.

“What effect the condemned person will feel from the nitrogen gas itself, no one knows,” Dr. Jeffrey Keller, president of the American College of Correctional Physicians, wrote in an email. “This has never been done before. It is an experimental procedure.”

Keller, who was not involved in developing the Alabama protocol, said the plan is to “eliminate all of the oxygen from the air” that Smith is breathing by replacing it with nitrogen.

  • @Ross_audio
    -4•11 months ago

    Well one of those is disputed by evidence directly. 5-10 seconds is clearly in a context irrelevant to the discussion.

    But I’m glad you got a hit on your Google scholar search.

    Care to read the papers too?

    I don’t, you’re not displaying any reason at all.

    • PennomiEnglish
      4•11 months ago

      I did read the papers and this process is extraordinarily similar to the process that is going to be used in the execution (immediate removal of all oxygen). Quote from the article:

      The state of Alabama has predicted in federal court filings that the nitrogen gas will “cause unconsciousness within seconds, and cause death within minutes.”

      This is exactly the context that is relevant to the discussion. Did you possibly have something else in mind?

      • @Ross_audio
        -3•11 months ago

        That’s simply not how breathing works.

        This is stating unconsciousness “within seconds”. How many.

        120 is a normal range to pass out from complete oxygen deprivation… That’s also countable in minutes. It ranges from 30-180 seconds.

        It’s slow.

        Read the papers.

        • PennomiEnglish
          3•11 months ago

          I highly doubt you know more than the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, who said:

          breathing an oxygen deficient atmosphere can have serious and immediate effects, including unconsciousness after only one or two breaths. The exposed person has no warning and cannot sense that the oxygen level is too low.

          Or the European Industrial Gases Association:

          With no oxygen present, inhalation of only 1-2 breaths of nitrogen or other inert gas will cause sudden loss of consciousness and cause death.

          (They also said that fainting is “almost immediate” with oxygen concentrations below 6% by volume.)

          You profess to know how breathing works, but I believe that we need to trust the experts whose job it is to research these things. I have linked ample research that supports my points and you have given nothing supporting yours. Either put up some evidence or leave it be.

          • @Ross_audio
            -1•11 months ago

            Read the actual papers. You’re quoting the minimum time as the full range.

            It’s up to 3 minutes.