Is death by decapitation painful?

Answer 1

That depends...
Most people, when they think of decapitation, think of a guillotine or a headsman with an ax, severing the head with one clean stroke. However, the decapitations practiced by terrorists usually involves slowly cutting and sawing on the neck and, even though I can't speak from experience, I suspect it's VERY painful.

Contrary to popular opinion, the former (guillotine or headsman) is probably painful as well, but for substantially less time, as the head quickly loses blood, causing the brain to lose consciousness within a dozen seconds or so.

Answer 2

Is Decapitation Painful

Answer 3

I believe it depends on the circumstances:
Execution (for criminal acts)- Yes. You've had time to AGONIZE over what got you into this situation and the fact that you are going to die for it. Was it worth it? AARRGHH
"Execution" (MURDER by whoever for whatever)- I believe that the intention of the murderer is to cause the most pain and terror in the victim AND all who see, hear about, and/or are connected in any way (family, friends, etc.). Yes.
Accidental- Sometimes. Instant (never knew what hit them) probably not and definitely easier on the family & friends to know there was no suffering. All but 1 other way, Yes for all.
Internal - Yes. While the head is flopping around the spinal cord is stretching and touching areas not normally contacted causing pain and an acute danger of severance (causing death). HOWEVER this is the only type of decapitation that has ANY chance of repair (in this case, pain is a GOOD thing).

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is death by decapitation painful?

Answer 5

Did you ever see the video of that guy being decapitated in Iraq? It looked pretty painful, not to mention you'd still have enough blood in your brain to stay alive for a few seconds after your head is no longer attached to your body.

Answer 6

Painless
If the headsman's axe or sword was sharp and his aim was true, decapitation was a quick and thought to be a relatively painless form of death. If the instrument was blunt or the executioner clumsy, however, multiple strokes might be required to sever the head. The person to be executed was therefore advised to give a gold coin to the headsman so that he did his job with care. Not getting their proper money's worth, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Mary I of Scotland required three strikes at their respective executions.


[edit] Sharia law
Decapitation by sword has in modern times occurred in jurisdictions subject to Islamic Sharia Law; another form of decapitation has been practiced by militant Islamists during the US-led occupation of Iraq. As of 2007, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Qatar all had laws allowing decapitation, but only Saudi Arabia was known to practice the sentence: a curved, single-edged sword is used, in public. This event is carried out in the main mosque of the city almost every Friday following prayers. Rape, murder, drug and religious crimes draw this brutal public punishment. Militant Islamic groups have, in recent years, begun carrying out beheadings with small knives, some as small as pocket knives: these beheadings begin with cutting the throat, then slowly severing the head, beginning with the spine. Historically, most methods of beheading use a heavy, sharp steel blade, cutting through the neck from behind, which quickly severs the spine, then cuts the blood vessels, trachea, and esophagus: a single stroke usually suffices. The gangs' frontal approach more closely resembles Dhabiĥa, a method used to slaughter animals, thereby rendering the meat hallal, in which the goal is to drain all the blood from the animal as quickly as possible. Ritual slaughter of this kind does not require decapitation; only the draining of all the blood. Among those who practiced this nonritual slaughter were Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who recently claimed to have beheaded American journalist Daniel Pearl but did not specify how he beheaded him. He did, however, release a video, which doesn't show the actual butchery but does show Pearl's body with throat cut but head still attached, then later shows his body dismembered into ten pieces.

Answer 7

It probably depends on how quickly it's done. The guillotine was actually invented as a humane way to kill people since executioners often needed more than one swing to remove people's heads in some cases. It took a couple to remove Mary, Queen of Scots' head.

Answer 8

Is Beheading Painful

Answer 9

It would hurt intensely for about a second...

Your brain stays alive for a couple of seconds before it realises "Uhh hey, I'm dead aren't I? Better switch off now."

This was shown in the french revolution, where a scientist studied decapitated heads; they blinked at him, but one actually called out to him, calling him by his name.

Answer 10

what kind of question is this? lol Honestly i guess if done fast enough your nerves wouldnt have fast enough reaction time to send a message to your brain saying "ouch"