This method was used for the first time in Alabama last week. For at least two minutes, Kenneth Eugene Smith appeared to shake and writhe on the gurney
I honestly can’t understand what is going on over there. Killing people with nitrogen is without question one of the best ways to kill a person. A grow box and a large N² tank are enough. How hard can that be?
I mean, people died by accident in nitrogen atmospheres while happily eating lunch.
There’s a big difference between asphyxiating with nitrogen by accident and knowingly knowing you’re being asphyxiated. Accidental asphyxiation is only peaceful because people don’t know it’s happening.
The point is, that you don’t notice it. Your body lacks fast oxygen sensors, as long as you can breathe off CO2, you won’t feel anything, maybe a bit tingly.
That’s not to say it’s “nice”, an execution is inevitably extremely stressful, but that’s kind of inevitable if you want the whole “witness” charade.
A pulmonologist in another thread said that was based on bad science. That the body can’t hit hypoxia fast enough to not trigger the suffocation response, because they are holding their breathe up to that point. That’s kind of a big deal if true.
What they were saying is, is that’s not enough time for the nitrogen to displace the co2 in their lungs for the peaceful part to happen. It’s not hypoxia that they die from its the suffocation.
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Since suffering is the whole point of the death penalty, I’m betting mask.
Or they just straight up use CO2 instead.
I honestly can’t understand what is going on over there. Killing people with nitrogen is without question one of the best ways to kill a person. A grow box and a large N² tank are enough. How hard can that be?
I mean, people died by accident in nitrogen atmospheres while happily eating lunch.
There’s a big difference between asphyxiating with nitrogen by accident and knowingly knowing you’re being asphyxiated. Accidental asphyxiation is only peaceful because people don’t know it’s happening.
The point is, that you don’t notice it. Your body lacks fast oxygen sensors, as long as you can breathe off CO2, you won’t feel anything, maybe a bit tingly.
That’s not to say it’s “nice”, an execution is inevitably extremely stressful, but that’s kind of inevitable if you want the whole “witness” charade.
A pulmonologist in another thread said that was based on bad science. That the body can’t hit hypoxia fast enough to not trigger the suffocation response, because they are holding their breathe up to that point. That’s kind of a big deal if true.
Even if that’s true, how long can you hold your breath? Under stress. 2min? Then you’ll breathe again, get rid of CO2 and you’re done.
Again, I’m not advocating for death penalty, but if you’re determined to kill someone, nitrogen is definitely one of the best ways.
What they were saying is, is that’s not enough time for the nitrogen to displace the co2 in their lungs for the peaceful part to happen. It’s not hypoxia that they die from its the suffocation.
CO2 isn’t “replaced”, it’s getting breathed away like in a normal atmosphere. The atmosphere is 70% nitrogen, it’s not like it’s a toxic gas.