Humane Execution Methods...

There's this weird, obscure story that I first heard as a child. But I have never been able to find. It is interesting, because it has to do with humane execution methods. Specifically the guillotine.

This woman was executed in France. Probably in the late 1700's or early 1800's, I think. She was beheaded. And then the executioner took her head from the basket, and slapped her cheeks a couple of times. I guess because she had done something really bad. And then her face turned color. From red to pale, or pale to red. She got an angry look on her face and looked over, to the side, where the executioner was.

It's an interesting story. Because it suggests she was fully conscious with the guillotine. People have speculated on how humane the guillotine is. Some say you don't feel a thing, death is immediate. Modern science suggests due to blood loss, you would start losing conscious immediately, even if you weren't dead yet. But she sounded fully conscious. Enough to feel anger. And look to the side.

There's another story of a scientist who knew he'd be executed soon. So he told his fellow scientist, watch my eyes after I'm beheaded. I'll give you a sign, maybe blinking. And you'll know when I am dead. But some people say there's no proof that ever happened.

 

There isn’t any.

 

This has always been a tough one. I just read an article on "Euthanasia pods" a nitrogen chamber. Here in the US a man was executed using nitrogen through a mask. He died a horrible death! The spiritual witness in the room said it was horrific and he had been to several other executions. I am not for the death penalty under any circumstance or way. Far too many innocent people are in prison! If in fact they did do it let them be reminded every single day what they did. As for assisted suicide under medical circumstances I am for. In both cases I never understood why its so hard. We have millions of surgeries in which we are put to sleep completely painless. In these surgeries an unfortunate amount of them never wake up from it. Why then is it so hard??? I shake my head!

 

Inert gas asphyxiation with helium is the humane execution and suicide method of choice which is also safe for bystanders. Ignorant U.S. Supreme Court justices should educate themselves about this: Cylinder of helium + gas pressure regulator + connecting hose + exit bag.

For an in-depth discussion, read the most comprehensive book on the subject: Chris Docker: Five Last Acts – The Exit Path, 2015, 822 pp.

Exit (right-to-die organisation) - Wikipedia
Suicide bag - Wikipedia

“In the last two decades, an increase in suicides due to gas inhalation has been observed. Since 2000, suicide methods using a combination of plastic bag suffocation with inert gas inhalation (e.g., helium, nitrogen, nitrous oxide) have been widely reported around the world. Helium is one of the most common inert gases involved in these events, along with propane and nitrogen. According to Nowak et al. (2019), suicides due to helium inhalation are very common in Northern and Eastern Europe, but also in South Australia, Hong Kong, and the US.”

Helium Suicide, a Rapid and Painless Asphyxia: Toxicological Findings

“The switch from coal gas to natural gas also had one unexpected effect. During the ‘50s and ‘60s, about half of the suicides in Britain were by coal gas. By the ‘70s, when the transition to natural gas was complete, the number of gas suicides had dropped to zero and the overall suicide rate was down a third. Even the suicidal appreciate convenience. If it's too much trouble, as Dorothy Parker said, "You might as well live."

Earth's 8 Weirdest Cave Systems

“Gorsuch favors a strict reading of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). In 2015, he wrote for the court when it permitted Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt to order the execution of Scott Eizember, prompting a 30-page dissent by Judge Mary Beck Briscoe. After the state's unsuccessful execution of Clayton Lockett, Gorsuch joined Briscoe when the court unanimously allowed Pruitt to continue using the same lethal injection protocol. The Supreme Court upheld that ruling 5–4 in Glossip v. Gross (2015).”

Neil Gorsuch - Wikipedia