"Pence could change course of debate on death penalty," is the editorial published by the Fort Wayne Joural Gazette.
In Indiana, which has not had an execution since 2009, officials announced last week that they had solved the death-drug shortage problem created when the makers of Pentathol ceased production three years ago. The state, they said, has laid in a supply of Brevital, another barbiturate anesthetic that could be used along with two other drugs to get the job done humanely. A spokesman noted that Michael Overstreet, who strangled Franklin College student Kelly Eckart to death in 1997, could be up for execution yet this year.
But soon after the state’s announcement, Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc., of Woodcliff, N.J., issued a statement objecting to Indiana’s plan. “Par’s mission is to help improve the quality of life” the statement read. “The state of Indiana’s proposed use is contrary to our mission.” Par added that it is working with wholesalers to make the drug unavailable for capital punishment.
So Brevital is, at best, a temporary solution. After that, what? Indiana could try hanging prisoners, or giving them cigarettes as they stand before firing squads.
As an alternative, Gov. Mike Pence could order a moratorium on executions pending a statewide discussion on whether Indiana should join the 18 states that have gotten out of the capital-punishment business.
"State eyes new drug for lethal injections," is an AP news report filed by Tom coyne, also via the Journal Gazette.
The maker of a drug Indiana wants to use for its first execution since 2009 says the anesthetic, which has never been used in lethal injections, isn’t approved for that purpose and that it only recently learned of the state’s intentions.
Stephen Mock, spokesman for Par Pharmaceutical in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, said Friday the company didn’t know Indiana had obtained Brevital for use in an execution until seeing news reports about it. He said the company is amending its distribution agreements to state that the product should not be sold to departments of correction but won’t try to stop Indiana from using the Brevital it already has.
Indiana officials are standing by their decision to switch to Brevital because of a shortage of sodium thiopental.
Earlier coverage from Indiana begins at the link.
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