What does nitrogen hypoxia do to the body? Kenneth Eugene Smith backtracks from being 'test subject' for Alabama's new execution method
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MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: An Alabama death row inmate named Kenneth Eugene Smith might become the first person in the US to be executed by the novel nitrogen hypoxia execution method that causes death by forcing a person to breathe only nitrogen, depriving them of oxygen.
Authorities in Alabama intend to use the procedure to execute Smith, who was convicted in the 1988 murder-for-hire killing of Elizabeth Sennett, but his lawyers believe he should not be used as a "test subject," as per Sky News.
Smith's attorneys contended that the state has provided little information regarding how nitrogen executions will operate, labeling the process "untested."
Although Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi have approved nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution, no state has yet utilized it to carry out a death sentence, according to AP.
How long does death by nitrogen hypoxia take?
Nitrogen hypoxia is a technique for suffocating a person by making them breathe pure nitrogen, and the brainstem dies after around seven minutes of oxygen deprivation.
Humans breathe 78% nitrogen, which is safe to breathe when mixed with the right amount of oxygen. So, a mask would be placed over the prisoner's face during the execution, and their air supply would be substituted with nitrogen until their heart stops.
How painful is the nitrogen hypoxia execution technique?
The proponents of the nitrogen hypoxia execution technique claim it would be painless, while its detractors equated it to human testing.
Trip Pittman, a former state senator from Alabama who proposed the new execution technique, has refuted claims that it is an experimental method.
Despite the fact that no state has used nitrogen to execute a death sentence, Pittman said that the consequences have been documented after people have died from inhaling nitrogen through workplace accidents and suicide attempts.
What did Kenneth Eugene Smith's lawyers say about plans to execute him through nitrogen hypoxia?
Kenneth Eugene Smith's attorneys said that Alamaba's attempt to execute him by lethal injection in November 2022 "already has been put through one failed execution attempt" when the crew was unable to attach the two necessary IV lines.
The legal team added that the convict has appeals pending and charged the state with seeking to bypass his lawsuit against the use of lethal injection by placing him "at the front of the line" before other prisoners.
Previously, Smith had said that he preferred to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection.
How did people react to Alabama's new nitrogen hypoxia execution method?
Netizens were quick to react to Alabama adopting the nitrogen hypoxia execution method and shared their views, especially on X (formerly Twitter).
A user said, "That's would be cruel. It will induce breathlessness symptoms, and a person will try to breathe in more."
Another wrote, "With this method the brain can achieve a painless, euphoric state similar to being intoxicated before slipping into unconsciousness."
"They are inventing new ways of torturing prisoners. Absolutely shameless behavior," said a person who doesn't seem to like the concept of execution.
"Is that supposed to be less painful?" inquired one person, with a user responding, "painless."
That's would be cruel. It will induce breathlessness symptoms, and a person will try to breathe in more.
— Aditya Nandode (@TaiyouSun) August 26, 2023
With this method the brain can achieve a painless, euphoric state similar to being intoxicated before slipping into unconsciousness.
— Jamil Baptiste Berglund (@JamilBerglund) August 26, 2023
They are inventing new ways of torturing prisoners. Absolutely shameless behavior
— ℤ. (@BabaFooka_) August 25, 2023