OCALA, Florida — Gov. Jeb Bush has suspended all executions in Florida on Friday after a medical examiner says the lethal injection of a convicted killer was botched.
The execution of a convicted killer Angel Nieves Diaz took 34 minutes — twice as long as normal — because officials botched the insertion of the needles that delivered the lethal chemicals, a medical examiner said.
Bush responded to the findings by halting the signing of more death warrants until a commission he created to examine the state's lethal injection process completes its final report by March 1.
Dr. William Hamilton, who performed the autopsy, said the needles pierced Diaz's veins and then went into soft tissue in his arms. The lethal chemicals are supposed to go directly into the veins.
Hamilton refused to say whether he thought Diaz died a painful death.
"I am going to defer answers about pain and suffering until the autopsy is complete," he said. He said the results were preliminary and toxicology tests and other tests may take several weeks.
Executions in Florida normally take no more than about 15 minutes, with the inmate rendered unconscious and motionless within three to five minutes. But Diaz appeared to be moving 24 minutes after the first injection, grimacing, blinking, licking his lips, blowing and appearing to mouth words."
I'm of two minds regarding this. Part of me says, so what? Better than hanging or electrocution or firing squad. This painless death deal is a copout. A brutal animal was put down, and who cares if the poor baby was uncomfortable? On the other hand, the law stipulates that lethal injection be as free from drama as possible, and as long as it IS the law then all steps should be taken to assure compliance.
Fix the thing. Then continue sending these diseased creatures back to their maker.
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