Changes

* [[Potassium Chloride]] - a drug that causes the [[heart]] to cease beating.

* [[Potassium Chloride]] - a drug that causes the [[heart]] to cease beating.

Lethal injection was first used on December 7, 1982, when Charlie Brooks was executed in [[Texas]]. <ref>http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/drowfacts.htm</ref>

Lethal injection was first used on December 7, 1982, when Charlie Brooks was executed in [[Texas]].<ref>http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/drowfacts.htm</ref>

Death by lethal injection has not traditionally been believed to be painful as the inmate will lose consciousness prior to the death-inducing drugs being pumped in their veins. Recent medical findings, however, have called this into question. <ref>http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/264/story/19957.html</ref> In September, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] agreed to hear a case over whether [[Kentucky]]'s three-drug lethal injection cocktail violates the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution by constituting cruel and unusual punishment. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320527,00.html Supreme Court to Hear Case on Constitutionality of Lethal Injection], Lee Ross, [[Fox News Channel]], January 06, 2008</ref> Several other states have postponed all executions until this case is resolved, although [[Texas]], which executes far more criminals than any other state, has not placed a moratorium on executions. <ref>http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070930/29513_Is_Lethal_Injection_'Cruel_and_Unusual'%3F.htm</ref>

Death by lethal injection has not traditionally been believed to be painful as the inmate will lose consciousness prior to the death-inducing drugs being pumped in their veins. Recent medical findings, however, have called this into question.<ref>http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/264/story/19957.html</ref> In September, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] agreed to hear a case over whether [[Kentucky]]'s three-drug lethal injection cocktail violates the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution by constituting cruel and unusual punishment.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320527,00.html Supreme Court to Hear Case on Constitutionality of Lethal Injection], Lee Ross, [[Fox News Channel]], January 06, 2008</ref> Several other states have postponed all executions until this case is resolved, although [[Texas]], which executes far more criminals than any other state, has not placed a moratorium on executions.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070930/29513_Is_Lethal_Injection_'Cruel_and_Unusual'%3F.htm</ref>

Lethal injection is the preferred method for executions in the [[United States]].  It has also been used in [[China]], [[Guatemala]] and the [[Philippines]]. <ref>http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/injection.html</ref>

Lethal injection is the preferred method for executions in the [[United States]].  It has also been used in [[China]], [[Guatemala]] and the [[Philippines]].<ref>http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/injection.html</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category: Punishment]]

[[Category:Punishment]]