I just read an article about a place in Switzerland that's helping people to commit suicide with the prescription of a "barbiturate cocktail." I was wondering what that consists of? (I'm not into self-harm, I'm just curious)
2006-12-04 08:21:57 · 5 answers · asked by D K 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
The intravenous injection is usually a mixture of compounds, designed to induce rapid unconsciousness followed by death through paralysis of respiratory muscles and/or by inducing cardiac hyperpolarization. The execution of the condemned in most states involves three separate injections:
Sodium thiopental: to induce a state of unconsciousness intended to last while the other two injections take effect.
Pancuronium/Tubocurarine: to stop all muscle movement except the heart. This causes muscle paralysis, collapse of the diaphragm, and would eventually cause death by asphyxiation.
Potassium chloride: to stop the heart from beating, and thus cause death: see cardiac arrest.
The drugs are not mixed externally as that can cause them to precipitate.
2006-12-04 08:35:19 · answer #1 · answered by kim_n_orlando 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Assisted suicide is legal in the United States in Oregon and may become legal in Hawaii although I am not in favor of it. Since you are not contemplating suicide yourself the most authoritative reference is Final Exit by Derek Humphry which was published by the Hemlock Society. This is such a good 'how to' guide that it was banned in Great Britain and having read it I wonder if it should have been banned in the US. For those contemplating suicide call 1 303 692 0985 or 1 800 621 4000 (each state also has an 800 # so if you are in need of it email me the name of the state in which you reside) - in Canada 1 80 668 6868. This is a sensitive topic so I would hope that readers and responders will approach this with caution and compassion for although I may be opposed to assisted suicide I certainly understand why it is employed and I agree that we are often kinder to our pet than our parents.
2006-12-04 08:28:03 · answer #2 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
a "barbituate cocktail" consists of three or more drugs, commonly barbituates, mixed together to heighten the effect on all the drugs. Barbituates tend to potentiate one another. So taking a large dose of several puts the client to sleep and gradually levels increase eventually leading to respiratory arrest and cardiac failure and ultimately a peaceful death.
2006-12-04 08:26:03 · answer #3 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suicide Cocktail
2016-09-28 07:03:17 · answer #4 · answered by hektner 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sodium thiopental, potassium chloride
2014-12-06 13:59:03 · answer #5 · answered by Martin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋