In Ohio, they recently reviewed lethal injection

Question

in Ohio, they recently reviewed lethal injection since so many times it does not work the first time, and they have to redo it, or since many of the prisoners are drug abusers, they can't find a vein to get in and have to poke many times, and the prisoners are fighting this saying it is cruel and unusual punishment.

Does anyone know what the court ruled?

Answer 1

The US Supreme Court ruled this last term that the way the lethal injection was administered in the majority of the states did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, however left open the possibility to contest the procedure in other states.  Ohio was one of the states that "won" the appeal, along with Kentucky and others

Answer 2

I can't give you a specific answer about the ruling but I can give you better info about your question.  "So many times it does not work the first time": I don't know of any case where it didn't work the first time.  Some death penalty opponents try to claim that the first of the 3 lethal drugs may not work, and the person is semi-concious and suffering during the other 2 doses. (Doses are given 1-2-3 in minutes.)  There's no way of absolutely knowing, they claim. But the way these drugs work on the body is VERY well known, and no credible way shown someone could remain concious at the super high doses used.

And I think it was a very, very few prisoners who had veins that bad.  Just provides another avenue for those who are against the death penalty,period.

Simpler solution to the vein problem:  there are drugs that can be given in a simple shot that will make you completely unconcious.  Then they can go for the major veins, with no "discomfort"

And since people with bad medical conditions go thru multiple IV attempts, I don't see how that can constitute cruel and inhuman punishment.  It's no picnic, but c'mon...   Again, just another excuse for an objection 'cause they object, period.