"Suspend search for execution drug," is the editorial in today's Lincoln Journal News.
Nebraska and other states already have stretched ethical boundaries in trying to find a supply of sodium thiopental to use for executing prisoners by lethal injection.
Their zeal to find the drug has led them to do business with characters of uncertain repute. The dubious nature of the transactions makes it reasonable to question exactly what sort of drug the state has purchased.
In the wake of a federal court ruling last month, Nebraska officials should suspend their attempt to buy the drug. It's obvious the drug protocol is unworkable under current state law.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon last month ruled that the Food and Drug Administration must block importation of sodium thiopental because it is an unapproved drug.
In addition, Leon, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, ordered the FDA to require any state correctional department in possession of sodium thiopental to return the drug to the FDA.
The FDA should carry out the order, and the state of Nebraska should comply.
And:
It's no secret that the Journal Star's editorial board has an agenda that includes repealing the state's death penalty.
But even supporters of the death penalty should concede that Nebraska's pursuit of sodium thiopental has turned into a ghoulish crusade. Nebraska officials should suspend the search for the drug.
Earlier coverage of Nebraska lethal injection issues begins at the link. Related posts are in the international and lethal injection indexes.
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