An anesthesiologist testified that Ohio’s lethal injection procedure isn’t appropriate for dogs or cats, let alone humans.
Mark Heath’s testimony on Monday on behalf of two murder defendants came in a Lorain County hearing on the constitutionality of state’s method for putting prisoners to death.
Heath, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Columbia University in New York City, said it’s possible to perform lethal injection of prisoners in a humane manner, but that Ohio’s method falls below the standard for euthanizing household pets.
Heath, who has testified on lethal injection in 11 states, also said he has not found an acceptable method for lethal injection of humans in any state.
Ohio requires executions be carried out “in a professional, humane, sensitive and dignified manner.’’
The two men who are facing murder charges say the state’s lethal injection procedure doesn’t give the quick and painless deaths required by state law.
Lethal injections are on hold nationally while the US Supreme Court considers a challenge in a case from Kentucky.
The major criticism of the three-drug execution procedure is that if the executioner administers too little anesthetic or makes mistakes during the injection, the inmate could suffer excruciating pain from the other two drugs.
A feud has broken out between the top leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on whether to maintain close ties with Russia. The AfD leader Alice Weidel this week slammed planned visits to Russia by some party lawmakers, while coleader Tino Chrupalla voiced a defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The unusual split comes at a time when mainstream politicians have accused the anti-immigration AfD of acting as stooges for the Kremlin and even spying for Russia. The row has also erupted in a year in which the AfD is flying high, often polling above the record 20 percent it
Ecuadorans are today to vote on whether to allow the return of foreign military bases and the drafting of a new constitution that could give the country’s president more power. Voters are to decide on the presence of foreign military bases, which have been banned on Ecuadoran soil since 2008. A “yes” vote would likely bring the return of the US military to the Manta air base on the Pacific coast — once a hub for US anti-drug operations. Other questions concern ending public funding for political parties, reducing the number of lawmakers and creating an elected body that would
The latest batch from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s e-mails illustrates the extraordinary scope of his contacts with powerful people, ranging from a top Trump adviser to Britain’s ex-prince Andrew. The US House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on trying to force release of evidence gathered on Epstein by law enforcement over the years — including the identities of the men suspected of participating in his alleged sex trafficking ring. However, a slew of e-mails released this week have already opened new windows to the extent of Epstein’s network. These include multiple references to US President Donald
CHARGES: The former president, who maintains his innocence, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for a failed coup bid, as well as an assassination plot Far-right former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is running out of options to avoid prison, after judges on Friday rejected his appeal against a 27-year sentence for a botched coup bid. Bolsonaro lost the 2022 elections and was convicted in September for his efforts to prevent Brazlian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking power after the polls. Prosecutors said the scheme — which included plans to assassinate Lula and a top Brazilian Supreme Court judge — failed only due to a lack of support from military top brass. A panel of Supreme Court judges weighing Bolsonaro’s appeal all voted to uphold
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