America Has a Drug Problem
We all know that, but this story from Agence France Presse is rather different, as it concerns a shortage of a drug needed for capital punishment by lethal injection.
In the midst of a drug shortage that has already forced postponement of lethal injection executions across the United States, some states say they now have the drug in hand but are refusing to disclose its origin.
The unprecedented situation has been compounded by an inmate scheduled to die Tuesday but who is suing to stop his own execution, arguing that the drug which the state of Arizona intends to use may be counterfeit or unsafe.
Only one pharmaceutical company in the United States, Hospira, currently manufactures the drug, the anesthetic sodium thiopental.
But it is out of stock and will not be able to resume production until the first quarter of 2011, and Hospira’s most recent batch is nearing its 2011 expiration date.
Some states like Texas and Ohio have enough thiopental to carry on with their execution schedules, but others like Kentucky have been forced to put capital punishment on hold.
Can’t they get the message, that someone is trying to tell them that the death penalty is totally wrong. The story would be funny, if it wasn’t so serious.
The Anonymous Widower 
I am 100% with you regarding the death penalty being wrong.
That aside, I can see why they would want to avoid counterfeit drugs in case they dont work and the prison are left with a prisoner on life support for years. But most meds are good for a long while after they use by date!
Liz
Comment by liz | October 24, 2010 |
[…] Supplied This Should be Prosecuted I indicated in an earlier post that the United States was having difficulty in getting enough sodium thiopental to carry out […]
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