Lethal injection

Lethal injection is the practice of injecting one or more drugs into a person (typically a barbiturate, paralytic, and potassium solution) for the express purpose of causing immediate death. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide. It first renders the person unconscious, and then stops the breathing and heart, in that order.

Typically, three drugs are used in lethal injection. Sodium thiopental or pentobarbital is used as an anesthetic to induce unconsciousness, pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) to cause muscle paralysis and respiratory arrest, and potassium chloride to stop the heart.

First developed in the United States, it is now also a legal method of execution in China, Thailand, Guatemala and Vietnam. It was also used in Philippines until the country re-abolished the death penalty in 2006.

Lethal injection gained popularity in the late 20th century as a form of execution intended to supplant other methods, notably electrocution, hanging, firing squad, gas chamber, and beheading, that were considered to be less humane. It is now the most common form of execution in the United States.

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