Ohio’s Rush to Resume Killing

UPDATE:  Kenneth Biros was executed by Ohio’s new, untested, one-drug method.  It took the execution team about 30 minutes to find a vein; once the drug was administered, death occurred in about 10 minutes.

December 7, in addition to being Pearl Harbor Day, is the day when, 27 years ago, Texas became the first state to kill a prisoner with lethal injection. Since then there have been over one thousand lethal injections in the US, all using the same basic three-drug protocol.  Tomorrow morning, barring intervention from a court, Ohio will change that.

Kenneth Biros is scheduled to be the first inmate put to death by a one-drug lethal injection protocol.  The drug is sodium thiopental, aka Sodium Pentothal (its Abbot Laboratories name), an anesthetic which, if taken in a massive dose, will cause death (though it will take longer than the three-drug method).  In smaller doses it’s also famous, or infamous, as a dubious “truth serum.”

Lawyers for Biros argue that this one drug approach, which was developed on the fly in the aftermath of the botched Romell Broom execution on September 30, has not been adequately examined or tested and that using it now amounts to human experimentation.

Amnesty International views all executions, but whatever method, as inherently cruel, but it is worth pointing out that Ohio’s problems with lethal injection – struggling or being unable to find usable veins – have not been addressed by this new protocol, which still calls for the drug to be injected intravenously.  There is a backup, Ohio has assured everyone, involving the injection of two different chemicals directly into a muscle:  who is going to do that, and what sort of training they have been given in the last month or two, is unclear.  Doctors in Ohio have consistently refused to participate in executions.

There is no need for Ohio to rush into this – indeed there is no need for Ohio to kill prisoners at all.  But at the very least, Governor Strickland should declare a moratorium on executions to allow time for a thorough review of these new methods of state killing.

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15 thoughts on “Ohio’s Rush to Resume Killing

  1. The barbarism of the state of Ohio in rushing to resume killing is simply appalling. Putting somebody to death is horrible enough. Experimenting in ways to do it defies rational comment.

  2. Even worse is that they would never hold a hearing on the Romell Broom incident before Kenneth Biros is to be killed tomorrow morning. Still, my heart breaks for his family and the family of his victim in that Biros' family is about to undergo imminent pain in the loss of their loved one to execution by a lethal injection protocol. Still, I will continue to pray for both families that they may find comfort and forgiveness in what they have done. 🙁

  3. The barbarism of the state of Ohio in rushing to resume killing is simply appalling. Putting somebody to death is horrible enough. Experimenting in ways to do it defies rational comment.

  4. Even worse is that they would never hold a hearing on the Romell Broom incident before Kenneth Biros is to be killed tomorrow morning. Still, my heart breaks for his family and the family of his victim in that Biros’ family is about to undergo imminent pain in the loss of their loved one to execution by a lethal injection protocol. Still, I will continue to pray for both families that they may find comfort and forgiveness in what they have done. 🙁

  5. I don't support the death penalty but haven't we also been arguing the 3 drug dose can lead to great pain because 1 is a paralytic the victim cannot reveal his pain. Perhaps Ohio has gone this way because of incompetence in administering 3 drug dose–with 1 there is less chance of messing up. If we must execute people, we should return to public hanging or guillotining or firing squad with mandatory attendance by jurors, prosecutors and judges. Lethal injection tries to cover brutal reality of execution so old tried and true pre 20th century methods might cause more to oppose death penalty

  6. Once again I say "killing someone who killed someone to show that killing is wrong" is totally appalling and oxymoronic. I will never understand how we continue to allow thisl

  7. I don’t support the death penalty but haven’t we also been arguing the 3 drug dose can lead to great pain because 1 is a paralytic the victim cannot reveal his pain. Perhaps Ohio has gone this way because of incompetence in administering 3 drug dose–with 1 there is less chance of messing up. If we must execute people, we should return to public hanging or guillotining or firing squad with mandatory attendance by jurors, prosecutors and judges. Lethal injection tries to cover brutal reality of execution so old tried and true pre 20th century methods might cause more to oppose death penalty

  8. Go Ohio! These people have caused pain and shown no mercy. This is justice!
    An eye for an eye! These lowlifes DESERVE a slow and painful death! Give me a break oh you bleeding hearts. When your loved child has been raped,tortured, and murdered…then tell me the person who did it does not deserve the death penalty!

  9. Once again I say “killing someone who killed someone to show that killing is wrong” is totally appalling and oxymoronic. I will never understand how we continue to allow thisl

  10. Christine, I'll bet you and everyone, including Tami Engstrom's family, rejoiced at his death, insulted him post-mortem and said "Good riddance!" and "May the bastard burn in hell for all eternity!" and "Through the fires of hell, justice is served!" and yet they unknowingly caused Biros' family more grief in the loss of their loved one. I hope God will bring Engstrom's and Biros' familes forgiveness for what they have done. And I'll bet Engstrom's family didn't seem to accept Biros' apology for his terrible crime of murder, as he continued, "I'm being paroled to my Father in heaven. I will now spend all my holidays with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I just feel that their vengeance in the form of justice was satisfied, and my heart breaks for their hearts of stone. May God forgive them. At least Biros is now in heaven with Engstrom. May they both rest in peace. 😥 And as for you, Christine, I despise your death penalty-supporting ways and are one of the Pilates and Pharisees' supporters who never care about human rights at all and only support victims' families while insulting death row inmates and their families, because you punish criminals and sinners with death and send them to hell for their crimes! I despise you, so I'm ignoring you! Good riddance! 👿

  11. Go Ohio! These people have caused pain and shown no mercy. This is justice!
    An eye for an eye! These lowlifes DESERVE a slow and painful death! Give me a break oh you bleeding hearts. When your loved child has been raped,tortured, and murdered…then tell me the person who did it does not deserve the death penalty!

  12. Christine, I’ll bet you and everyone, including Tami Engstrom’s family, rejoiced at his death, insulted him post-mortem and said “Good riddance!” and “May the bastard burn in hell for all eternity!” and “Through the fires of hell, justice is served!” and yet they unknowingly caused Biros’ family more grief in the loss of their loved one. I hope God will bring Engstrom’s and Biros’ familes forgiveness for what they have done. And I’ll bet Engstrom’s family didn’t seem to accept Biros’ apology for his terrible crime of murder, as he continued, “I’m being paroled to my Father in heaven. I will now spend all my holidays with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I just feel that their vengeance in the form of justice was satisfied, and my heart breaks for their hearts of stone. May God forgive them. At least Biros is now in heaven with Engstrom. May they both rest in peace. 😥 And as for you, Christine, I despise your death penalty-supporting ways and are one of the Pilates and Pharisees’ supporters who never care about human rights at all and only support victims’ families while insulting death row inmates and their families, because you punish criminals and sinners with death and send them to hell for their crimes! I despise you, so I’m ignoring you! Good riddance! 👿

  13. 27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 520,042 murders in the U.S.

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 1,080,000 auto fatalities (rough estimate)

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 11,745,000 tobacco/smoke related deaths (rough estimate)

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 826,794 suicides.

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 40,500,000 abortions. (rough estimate)

    For a "human rights" organization you are on the wrong side on this issue. The attention, efforts, resources etc… focused on 1,000 people convicted of the most heinous crimes… ESPECIALLY when there are so many dire and other worthy causes. A.I. pays zero attention to most of them. Other issues do not get the attention given to the lethal injection of murdering rapists.

  14. 27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 520,042 murders in the U.S.

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 1,080,000 auto fatalities (rough estimate)

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 11,745,000 tobacco/smoke related deaths (rough estimate)

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 826,794 suicides.

    27 years equals 1,000 lethal injections.
    27 years equals 40,500,000 abortions. (rough estimate)

    For a “human rights” organization you are on the wrong side on this issue. The attention, efforts, resources etc… focused on 1,000 people convicted of the most heinous crimes… ESPECIALLY when there are so many dire and other worthy causes. A.I. pays zero attention to most of them. Other issues do not get the attention given to the lethal injection of murdering rapists.

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