The united states currently embroiled in a controversial debate over the execution methods for death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted in 1988 for murdering a man's wife after extorting money. Initially sentenced to death in 1996, an attempt to execute Smith via lethal injection in 2022 at the Holman Correctional Facility failed when prison staff couldn't find a suitable vein.
Subsequently, his death warrant was cancelled in november 2022. However, a new death sentence has been issued, proposing the use of nitrogen gas—a method contested by the United Nations High Commissioner. The U.S. administration's plan involves securing an airtight mask to Smith's face, compelling him to inhale nitrogen gas. Once introduced, this gas, known for deactivating the body, displaces oxygen within, leading to the person's demise.
This approach has drawn criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner, who deems it a violation of human rights, citing it as both inhumane and undignified. The Commissioner protests that this untested method amounts to torture and cruelty, advocating for an immediate halt to its implementation.
Medical experts have also expressed reservations, asserting that the use of nitrogen gas may induce severe cramps and render the individual passive. Furthermore, concerns arise about potential gas leaks, posing risks to others in the vicinity. The contentious nature of this proposed execution method underscores the ongoing ethical and humanitarian debates surrounding capital punishment in the United States.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel