Why do they use an alcohol swab on convicts about to be given a lethal injection?

Question

Is it really necesary?

Answer 1

Good question ,then again it is showing that good hygeine practices should never be stopped even using the lethal injection ♥

Answer 2

It's really just one of those formalities that allow the executioners to maintain a sense of proffessionalism.

However, there is one other legitimate reason I've ever heard. They swab the arm to keep it from being infected in case the convict is given a stay of execution. It's happened on rare occasions, so it's definately worth the small cost of some rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to keep the guy from being killed by infection and having his family sue the state for "wrongful death."

Answer 3

i do no longer keep in mind ever having alcohol swab while having an injection yet admittedly i don't have them in many cases i'm confident they do nonetheless. i do no longer understand why kamikaze pilots placed on helmets and human beings on listed under are continually reporting the stable question and not the troll ones. possibly using fact they themselves have not have been given the brains to ask stable ones themselves so hotel to getting all the stable ones bumped off.

Answer 4

No matter what method you use, execution's not easy. But the biggest problem is getting them ready to die. He [James] had found Christ, I had got to know him real well: I will not kill a man I don't know...And I promised I would hold his hand from the moment we strapped him down on the table until he died. But it was terrible because we couldn't get the intravenous lines into his arm. He was strapped down but they couldn't find a vein. He was lying there for 15 minutes, and I finally had to ask him: 'Antonio, please make a fist, so we can find your vein'. We had to get him to make a fist so we could kill him. Then the doctor got the line in; he used an alcohol swab to sterilise the skin and I said, 'What's the point?' After we got the lines in it took another few minutes...I would not like to execute an inmate without faith because I know I would be sending his soul straight to hell.

Answer 5

It's considered a standard medical procedure...a clean needle ensures the convict a quick death. It's just like when you get an injection for the flu- a clean needle will make the drugs go through your body faster. An unclean needle will make the convict suffer unnecessarily. ( too bad they don't do that)

Answer 6

on a pragmatic level, the alcohol swab is meant to soften the skin and make it easier for the person injecting the needle to do it efficiently- swiftly-
on a mental level- they want the needle to go in speedily so the person injecting the needle doesn't lose their resolve
on a political level- they want to demonstrate justice without the blooper of struggling to get the needle in
on a psychological level- we equate injections to justified wellness....even when we kill people

Answer 7

Very good question. Who needs sterile technique at that point? Maybe so the rest of the family can't argue the cause of death was really a very quick acting systemic infection and not the result of shock received for ax murdering his girlfriend.

Answer 8

I'm with you on that one...

If they are gonna have the death penalty at all, they might as well get creative with it... draw a little bulls eye on the injection site and have em throw the needles at him like darts to see who can get the needle in the right spot from several feet away... ;^P

Answer 9

No it's not necessary. But lethal injection is a humane way for a convict to die. Is that really necessary?

Answer 10

Of course it is necessary! I mean you wouldn't want your arm to get infected while they lethally inject you right?