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Nitrogen Hypoxia Becomes the Norm for Executions in Alabama
This week, a fourth Alabama prisoner on death row was executed using nitrogen hypoxia.
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Unlike the use of nitrogen in the right to die movement, in an execution the death is neither voluntary nor elective. The process involves a tight-fitting face mask and the administration of a high flow of nitrogen gas.
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The Sarco requires no face mask, nor is there the noisy admission of high pressure nitrogen gas into the capsule. The person breathes normally.
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In both cases, death occurs from a lack of oxygen in the air that is inhaled. But this is where the similarities end.
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Alabama Public Radio is reporting that Demetrius Frazier lost consciousness ‘very quickly’, in less than a minute.
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Frazier is said to have moved his outstretched hands in a circular motion for this first minute. After losing consciousness, Alabama Corrections Commissioner, John Hamm, said he seemed to grimace and quiver ‘on the gurney’.
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At 6.13pm, Frazier's legs were said to have lifted several inches from the gurney. This was 3 minutes after the execution began. These have been described as ‘involuntary movements’.
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In an execution, it is not known when the officials switch the air in the face mask to pure nitrogen. Critical time points (eg. loss of consciousness and the recording of subsequent movements) are, therefore, difficult to time stamp.
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What is clear is that, as abhorrent as the death penalty is, it would seem that the State of Alabama has succeeded in introducing nitrogen hypoxia as an ‘effective' means of state-sanctioned killing.
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The more executions that take place, the more difficult it will be for opponents of the death penalty to argue that this is 'cruel and unusual punishment’ that, under the 8th Amendment, is in breach of the US Constitution and should not be tolerated.
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Guilty of Suicide Incitement by Text Message
In January in the Netherlands, the first-ever court case involving 'suicide incitement’ took place in the Hague. The case involved an 80-year old man (known as 'Hans D’).
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Hans D was also found guilty of assisting a suicide (giving instruction, recommending the means, and helping to order sodium azide, aka 'Middel X').
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Of interest is that Hans D was found guilty of inciting and assisting the suicide via WhatsApp text messages. He never met the woman with whom he was communicating. The only common link is that both were members of the Dutch group CLW.
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The deceased woman was 32-years old and had several serious mental health diagnoses. Hans said in court that at no time was it apparent that the woman was mentally ill.
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This case significantly broadens the scope of what can be considered suicide assistance.
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Editor’s Question - had the woman been elderly and 'suffering unbearably’, would the Dutch state have chosen to prosecute Hans D for his involvement?
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Or, is this another example of the zero tolerance approach that this country takes to end of life issues that fall outside its strict voluntary euthanasia law?
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Read more on the Peaceful Pill Handbook website
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Does Nembutal Cause Drowning?'
Much has been written about Nembutal and some of the other barbiturates used in execution deaths in the US. Some critics seem intent on giving Nembutal a bad name.
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They say that 'flash pulmonary edema' (where the person experiences subjective drowning) is present in 66% of executions where Nembutal has been used. But is this true?
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The March 2025 Online Snippet will examine this claim and reach a scientific vis a vis ideological conclusion.
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- Time Zones listed on the Exit Website
- Snippets - are exclusive for Exit Members (free) / Peaceful Pill eHandbook Subscribers (small cost)
- Photo-ID is required at registration
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Sarco Plans to be Released in March 2025
It was 13 years ago that the idea of a Sarco came into existence after Dr Philip Nitschke was approached by lawyers of a UK man who suffered from locked-in syndrome.
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The question was: 'could he design a machine that could be used at the press of a button or the blink of an eye?'
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The answer was a resounding ‘yes’.
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It is now almost five months since the Sarco was used in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland.
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The Boerhaave is the Dutch national museum for the history of science and medicine. The acquisition will take place once the Swiss prosecutors have concluded their investigation.
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In the meantime, Exit will begin to publish the 3D print plans of the Sarco on an open source basis.
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The first 'data-drop' is planned for March 2025.
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Photo ID will need to be provided prior to downloading the free, publicly available files.
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The files will be free to download in perpetuity, just like the use of the Sarco.
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January 2025 Update
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