Texas using animal euthanasia drug for executions

[Bob Of Burleson]

Despite drug shortage, 2 states
carry on with executions using
single dose of potent sedative

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS – Despite a shortage of lethal-injection drugs, two of the nation's most active death penalty states have quietly carried on with executions by turning to pentobarbital, a powerful sedative that generally puts inmates to death swiftly and without complications.

Missouri and Texas have avoided the prolonged executions seen in other states where authorities are struggling to find a reliable chemical combination. The drug's apparent effectiveness raises questions about why it has not been more widely adopted.

"There is a better drug, and that better drug is pentobarbital," said Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the pro-death penalty Criminal Justice Legal Foundation.

Lethal injection is in the spotlight after executions went awry in Ohio, Oklahoma and Arizona, which all use midazolam, a drug that is more commonly given to help patients relax before surgery. In executions, it is part of a two- or three-drug lethal injection.

Texas and Missouri instead administer a single large dose of pentobarbital, which is often used to treat convulsions and seizures and to euthanize animals.

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[PlanoSooner]

some drugs work on both humans and animals.
a friend of mine bred dogs.... he got valium for their long trips.... and he took them so their barking wasnt such a nuisance

[BigTex]

Should we stop giving people insulin because they give it to dogs?

[jellowrestling]

It's used for animals. 'Nuff said.

[Bob Of Burleson]

A lot of us have been wondering for a long time why states have not been using pentobarbital. I still haven't seen a good reason for their reluctance to adopt the drug commonly used for animal euthanasia.

[BigTex]

Because the anti-death penalty people would have a problem with putting the condemned to sleep with fairy dust and transporting them to heaven on a golden chariot.

[LibraryLady]

some drugs work on both humans and animals.

Is this where I point out that humans are animals? ....in the mammal grouping/species?