Versed in the Death Penalty

June 29, 2015 is a very sad day in history that 5 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, who neither have medical training, nor, presumably, experiences of their own with benzos, have declared that it is perfectly acceptable to use Midazolam (Versed) as a substitute for barbiturates in the death penalty.

For any of us on benzos who have had a paradoxical reaction, there is enough weirdness and shadows of doubt in both the effects and side effects of benzos that it should never be considered as the sole reliable source for sedation....for surgery or the death penalty!

Leaving aside all consideration of the justice or injustice of the death penalty itself, this method is appalling in the scope of its ignorance... I personally would opt for a firing squad as infinitely less cruel or unusual, over a lethal injection tempered only by a wimpy benzo!  Of course the victims were seen gasping for air, and were conscious of their choking!  How many people on this board have had choking and air hunger as symptoms of benzo use!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/us/supreme-court-execution-drug.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

Four condemned inmates in Oklahoma challenged the use of the drug, saying it did not reliably render the person unconscious and so violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Lower courts disagreed.

Sadly, there are too many citizens and jurors who are not benzo wise. 

This ruling is going to color my nightmares tonight, no doubt....

Tragic.