Death row executions have been a part of the justice system for multiple centuries, posing as the highest punishment one can receive as a result of their crimes. From lethal injections to the electric chair, multiple states throughout America take part in these various methods of execution, based on their views on which are considered most humane and constitutional. Near the end of the month, the state of Alabama is resorting to a new method. On Jan. 25, Kenneth Eugene Smith will be executed for the 1988 murder of Elizabeth Sennett via nitrogen hypoxia, the first to be executed this way in the state.
Unfortunately, there are issues surrounding this execution, which are in relation to both Smith and the method itself. Last year, Smith was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection, which ended as a botched execution, inflicting PTSD and both physical and mental pain onto Smith. Right off the bat, I believe Smith has already suffered enough. He went through the pain of the lethal chemicals going through his veins, only for the pain to never end. Despite all of this, the state not only poses the risk of another botched execution but wants to use a new method, which can technically be classified as experimental due to the first time use.
According to Death Penalty Info.org, executions involving lethal gas have the second highest botch rate, with a 5.4% botched rate out of 593 total executions, the highest being lethal injections with a 7.12% (32) botch rate. Based on this, and the fact that this has never been done in Alabama, I can only fear that the botch rate may be high, only increasing Smith’s suffering increase even more. However, the risk for a botched execution can also be lowered, based on how it works and is carried out.
The biggest risk alongside the method’s botch rate is how much suffering Smith will experience before passing. The way the method works feels like it would ensure death no matter what, but seems to be close to being the most painful and inhumane, close to the electric chair execution. First, a mask will be strapped to Smith’s face which establishes a seal. Next, pure nitrogen will flow into the mask, replacing the oxygen quickly and ultimately suffocate Smith to death.
Although officials have stated that Smith’s exposure to nitrogen will quickly make him unconscious, there are still problems that lie within this, being right in the open. It has also been stated that practices have been going on to prepare for the execution, but that does not prove how Smith’s body will react to the nitrogen. Everyone’s body is different and reacts to certain chemicals, meaning that the nitrogen might not make Smith unconscious. Within five minutes, the nitrogen is supposed to cause cardiac arrest and death.
Suffocating someone to death seems like the most inhumane way to execute someone in my opinion. At this point, one might as well just pull the trigger against his head, which seems like to inflict less pain and be more effective in terms of it being successful. I can imagine that even if Smith’s execution is botched, he would most likely die from his lungs collapsing, after having to endure even more pain than was expected.
With all of these factors in play, I feel as Smith has gone through enough for his crimes. Lethal injections are said to be painful, and Smith was meant to be relieved of the pain quickly but instead had to endure it for a long four hours. Now with having to go through the same process again, he instead has the right to be even more scared and anxious, with the method being considered new, of course bringing a higher risk of failure. All I can say is that I pray that the execution goes successful, which is hard to say, but Smith deserves to finally be put off death row.
