lethal injection

21 Mo. death-row inmates sue over new execution drug

Joseph Leahy — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:32:28 +0000

21 death-row prisoners are suing the director of Missouri’s Corrections Department over its new lethal injection drug.

Director George Lombardi announced last month that Missouri would be the first in the nation to replace its three-drug protocol in favor of using the anesthetic Propofol for capital punishment.

Missouri opts for untested drug for executions

The Associated Press, St. Louis Public Radio, Joseph Leahy and KRCU — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:33:58 +0000

Updated at 5:50 a.m. Friday with additional reporting. Reporting from KRCU's Jacob McCleland was used in this story.

The anesthetic that caused the overdose death of pop star Michael Jackson is now the drug for executions in Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Corrections is switching from its longstanding three-drug method to a single drug, propofol, which has never been used in an execution in the U.S. That's causing a stir among critics lijke Death Penalty Information Center director Richard Dieter.

Federal judge sides with Mo. in death penalty case

The Associated Press and St. Louis Public Radio — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:25:48 +0000

A federal judge has rejected a challenge by Missouri prison inmates to the state's execution procedure.

The inmates' lawsuit argued that Missouri does not get valid medical prescriptions for the drugs used to put prisoners to death.

The lawsuit cited the state's use of non-medical personnel to administer the chemicals intravenously.

In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey said the inmates' lawsuit failed to show actual harm to anyone.

Missouri's execution process has been the subject of legal wrangling for several years.

Missouri searches for solutions in execution drug shortage

Julie Bierach — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:35:57 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-957095.mp3

On March 1, Missouri’s supply of a key execution drug expired. The sole U.S. manufacturer has stopped making the drug, sending the state on a quest to find more. The federal government does not have any reserves and is currently undertaking a review of what they call a critical shortage.

As St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie Bierach reports, Missouri has another option. It could follow the lead of Ohio and Oklahoma and switch drugs.