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30 Weeks
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according to a spokesman for the Texas Department of Corrections, which has carried out many executions by lethal injection, the technician (it's never a doctor) is in fact supposed to swab the prisoner's arm first. One presumes other states employing this method do likewise.
There are several reasons for this. Apart from its usefulness as an antiseptic, alcohol causes blood vessels to rise to the surface, making it easier to insert the needle.
More important, there's a chance the prisoner's sentence might be delayed or commuted at the last minute.
It's happened before. In October, 1983 condemned murderer James Autry was strapped to a gurney for an hour in a Texas prison with saline solution dripping into his arm. (He was awake the whole time, incidentally.)
At about the time he was scheduled to die he was told he had received a stay of execution. He was returned to his cell and not executed until the following March. Whatever you think of the death penalty, you wouldn't want the guy to die of sheer carelessness.
Which brings us to what I think is the real reason for swabbing the arm--it allows the executioners to think of themselves as professionals doing a job rather than killers.
Interviews with members of execution teams reveal that they place great stock in following proper procedures. We may be certain that if the prisoner were to choke on a chicken bone during his last meal, the authorities would spare no effort to save his life an hour prior to ending it. Indeed, if you can believe Chuck Shepherd's News of the Weird column, that's already happened. "In Texas convicted murderer David Lee Herman slashed his throat on April 1 [1997], a day before his execution, but was patched up and given his lethal injection one day late," Shepherd writes. |
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jen
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WOW
I never thought about that! Cannot answer! Weird.
WHY do they bother?
I think lethal injection is FAR too easy way out anyway. |
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Steven L
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Pretty much the same reason why kamikaze pilots wear helmets. There is no reason |
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sgp714
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Probably for legal reasons. |
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Rja
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Pray tell we wouldn't want the gentleman to get an infection! |
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Wizzard2
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Well, as silly as it souldns, they ave to follow medical proceedure. If a prisional is deathy ill on death row they try to cure him, to kill him. |
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Roxy
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Because it is considered unethical not to kinda stupid huh? why do they even use clean needles |
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nat_00420
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lol, good question! |
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Yahoo! Answers Chic
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For legal reasons or else they do it to seem humane. Stupid policy and procedure bull s h i t. Love the question though. |
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Bones
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The doctors oath says they will do no harm...wonder how they manage to follow that when they give em the needle... |
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legendary~cool
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It is simply protocol.... |
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dmgoldsbo7
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Good question!!!!!! |
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barfly_z
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Thats a good one!!!!! I would like to know that one myself!!!!That's a funny question!!!!! |
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Dave of the Hill People
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It's all part of the meeting the requirements of the "cruel and unusual punishment" clause. The death penalty is on thin enough ice as it is re: that clause, and not practicing basic medical procedures when administering the death penalty could jeopardize its constitutionality.
That said, your question is amusing and ironic. :) |
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whenwhalesfly
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I had no idea they used alcohol swabs !! How stupid. But my guess is, the family that is watching the lethal injection could no doubt sue the prison for not doing the procedure as any doctor would do it.
I have never gave this a thought. What a stupid thing to do. Their going to kill that person anyway. But oh well, whatever flips their cookie... |
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jhaejhae
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Man I have been asking the same question for many years.
I hope someone anwsers this |
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wannamatch?
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by law it is required or else the party of the one being injected could sue |
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NutstersChick
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what a waste of alcohol.
:) |
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Franklin
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Wouldn't want to send someone to hell and make them sick. It would take the sport out of the whole execution. |
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Mommymonster
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Hahahaha
They don't want you to come back and sue due to infection of the injection.
Hahahahaha |
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cluelesskat maria
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i guess its just a force of action,it just a natural thing to do |
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Mopar Muscle Gal
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legality reasons |
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3D Farms
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To clean the skin of germs |
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island3girl
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because the prisoner could get a stay of execution after the IV is stated and you wouldn't want him to have an infection.
the lethatl part is put in through tubing and not directly from a needle into the body |
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NNY
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they dont want to give the dude an infection that he could get ill from... |
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shy
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SO THAT WHERE EVER THEY INJECT U IS CLEAN LESS CHANCE OF INFECTION |
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niwriffej
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I think it is to avoid forcing foreign particles and bacteria from your skin into your bloodstream when they puncture you. Hygene is the magic wand that makes modern medicine work.
Oh...lethal injections! Just SOP with injections of all kinds, maybe it's kind of gallows humor, "wouldn't want you to get sick, now!" |
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lawzlaw
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Because if they didn't it would give the anti-death penalty folks a reason to argue that it is cruel and unusual. |
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Luv79t
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I think it is just routine, that's just the way it's done. |
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Cruella DeVil
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Maybe to protect the seringe...!
Good question! |
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cute1-4u
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good question, i think it is because of hygenic reasons, maybe it is so that the needle won't hurt so bad when it goes to kill. I don't think that sounds right. hell i don't know? |
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