MOSCOW, April 30 (RIA Novosti) – A new three-drug mixture that was used for the first time on Tuesday in the US state of Oklahoma can be harmful to breathing and heart function, the Associated Press has reported.
“Two of the drugs used carry warnings that they can suppress the respiratory system and the third warns that cardiac trouble can occur at high but non-lethal doses, and lists specific steps to take if a medical patient receives too much of the drug but doesn't die,” the report said.
During an execution of an Oklahoma inmate Tuesday, his vein “exploded,” prompting authorities to abruptly halt the process and call off another execution later in the day, CNN reported.
The inmate, Clayton Lockett, died 43 minutes of an apparent heart attack after the first injection was administered. The drug, midazolam, is supposed to render a person unconscious. Seven minutes later, Lockett was still conscious.
AP reported that warning labels that accompany packages of midazolam say “intravenous use of the drug has been associated with respiratory suppression or respiratory arrest.”
Drugs such as potassium chloride, also used in executions, stop the heart at high doses. Respiratory paralysis is also possible. “Medical literature at the National Institutes of Health says potassium intoxication can cause cardiac arrest and that EKG abnormalities can illustrate trouble,” the report said.
Media earlier reported that Texas prison officials obtained a supply of pentobarbital used for the lethal injection last year, and the drugs expired at the end of March.
Human rights advocates have criticized the lack of transparency about lethal injections, including the source and purity of drugs, undermining arguments about the constitutionality of execution and representing a gross violation of human rights.
