why do they sterilize needles before they give a lethal injection?

Question

with the death penalty in place, they have to make sure the needles are sterilized,,,

Answer 1

They disinfect the site of the injection as well. This makes as much sense as the rest of the death penalty system. The death penalty is not an effective way of keeping us safe.

You might want to visit www.deathpenaltyinfo.org for more about execution protocols and other absurdities about the death penalty

Answer 2

This is one of those perplexing questions of life. Let us attempt to resolve this concern, shared by many people, not just yourself. The first thing we need to look at is the question itself. Do prison executioners sterilize the needles they use? Do you have documented evidence indicating this? Have you witnessed a lethal injection and observed the executioner sterilizing the needle? In short, do you know for a fact that this question even needs asking? Whoever told you that needles were sterilized may have sworn it was true, but how reliable was his or her word? Was he or she a prison executioner or some one who over saw the process of lethal injections?

Let us assume, regardless of what the truth may be, that it is a fact that lethal injection needles are sterilized. Here are some reasons why the needles should be sterilized, even though they are going to be used to kill some one. First, the safety of the person who gives the injection. What if they accidentally scratch themselves with the needle? This scratch might not introduce poison into their system, but if there were harmful organisms living on the tip of the needle, they would be introduced. Second, not sterilizing the needle might give grounds to the executed that "cruel and unusual punishment" was being used against him. I know it sounds dumb, but you have to admit, in today's society, it is all too possible. Third, sterilizing needles is good medical practice, and it's always a good idea to make a habit out of good practices. If you always do something when it's not necessary, you are more likely to do it when it is necessary, and likewise, if you never do something when it's not necessary, you are less likely to do it when it is. We don't want society's injectors to stop practicing good habits.

Answer 3

Who knows. It's like a screen door on a submarine ya know?

Of course it's policy/procedures and I can imagine that some death row family member has sued the system for lots of money saying that the inmate suffered while dying because of an infection or some such BS ~ but take a look at the Stella Awards people will sue for anything!

Of course why you would want them NOT to suffer is beyond me . . the things people do to get on death row they are usually pretty bad and don't deserve such maticulous treatment! (IMO)

Answer 4

They don't sterilize the needles. Needles are now all disposable and come sterilized in single-use packages.

Answer 5

its government procedure even though it doesn't make any sense but i guess that they don't want to be sued for having unclean needles. it is sort of like this law in Virginia that homeless people can not be feed food from a home but a government run facility. even though homeless people eat out of the garbage can.

Answer 6

i dont know in case by some twisted fate the un sterllized needle protects the convict.

Answer 7

The same reason they won't let a certain red food dye in rat poison because it is carcinogenic.

Answer 8

Now that is a really good question.

Answer 9

really? i really miss that part
maybe they're already used to do so

Answer 10

practice perfection not mediocrity.