Attorneys for an inmate are asking the Alabama Supreme Court to reject the state's request to set an execution date for him using the new execution method of nitrogen hypoxia.
An Alabama inmate would be the test subject for the “experimental” execution method of nitrogen hypoxia, his lawyers argued, as they asked judges to deny the state’s request to carry out his death sentence using the new method.
In a Friday court filing, attorneys for Kenneth Eugene Smith asked the Alabama Supreme Court to reject the state attorney general’s request to set an execution date for Smith using the proposed new execution method. Nitrogen gas is authorized as an execution method in three states but it has never been used to put an inmate to death.
Smith’s attorneys argued the state has disclosed little information about how nitrogen executions would work, releasing only a redacted copy of the proposed protocol.
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I don't know much about asphyxiation but it does not sound comfortable. Concerning lethal injection, it's not certain how much pain the paralyzed body feels as the heart is being stopped – have there been EEG studies?
I would prefer execution by firing squad.
The human body can only detect a buildup of carbon dioxide in the lungs, not a lack of oxygen. This is why it's uncomfortable to hold your breath for a long time. If you inhale pure nitrogen while being able to exhale, there is no build up of CO2 and therefore little to no discomfort.
Wikipedia cites a USAF text, saying: "Some individuals experience headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and euphoria, and some become unconscious without warning."
This is why it's uncomfortable to hold your breath for a long time.
If you want to try it at home, try inhaling the air inside a soda bottle
over holding your breath because they are both co2???
That just doesn't sound practical
yes. thus my confusion.
Better yet, try inhaling Nitrous oxide from whipped creme propellant.
It's supposed to be very painless. If I remember correctly your body can't tell the difference between oxygen and nitrogen so you don't have a feeling of lack of air, just continue breathing normally then fall asleep and expire.
Generally, the build up of CO2 is what triggers pain and panic of asphyxiation. Oxygen displacing gases certainly do cause fast unconsciousness and brain damage. Would seem very likely that nitrogen works well.
There's plenty of knowledge about the effects of nitrogen from it being a workplace hazard in a lot of places.
One example is anchor chain lockers on ships. That big iron chain that just came out of the salt water wants to turn into iron oxide so it absorbs all the oxygen making the environment extremely nitrogen rich. In several cases people have been climbing down into it and without warning go unconscious. I think one case had three dead at the bottom before the fourth guy comes along with some brains and thinks maybe I shouldn't go down there.
have there been EEG studies?
there have and it's horrendous.
In any case, displacing oxygen with nitrogen is one of those things that you'd never notice until it was too late. because your body bases it's breathing off how much air your sucking in, you don't even start hyper ventilating.
