A Horizon that might be interesting.

[Glaucus]

With so much talk on these forums about capital punishment. this program should be good.

SCIENTIFIC DOCUMENTARY: Horizon
On: BBC 2 (102)
Date: Tuesday 15th January 2008 (starting in 45 minutes)
Time: 21:00 to 21:50 (50 minutes long)

A one-off alert is set for Tuesday 15th January 2008, 15 minutes before 21:00
How to Kill a Human Being.
Former Conservative MP Michael Portillo pushes his body to the brink of death in an investigation into the science of execution. As the American Supreme Court examines whether the lethal injection is causing prisoners to die in unnecessary pain, Michael sets out to find a solution which is fundamentally humane. Armed with startling new evidence, Michael considers a completely new approach. Will it be the answer? There is only one way to find out - to experience it himself.
(New Series, Stereo, Widescreen, Subtitles, Audio Described)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marked By: 'Reminder: Horizon' marker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from http://www.getdigiguide.com/?p=1&r=158980

I wonder if it will change anyone opinions?
Anyone else going to watch this?
At least there some people out there with a sense of morality but also common sense to know that USA is not going to give up on the death sentence and he's actually putting his money where his mouth is.

 

[Tefal]

surly several bullets /bolt gun to the head is humane?

 

[Vonhelmet]

surly several bullets /bolt gun to the head is human?

Surely you're joking...

On a tangent, I'm reading Freakonomics at the moment... some interesting stats in there about how the death penalty has next to no effect as a deterrent.

 

[Vonhelmet]

well yeah, hasn't that just been a point of fact for many a year?

Yeah, but one which is constantly ignored by the ignorant masses.

 

[Tefal]

Surely you're joking...

On a tangent, I'm reading Freakonomics at the moment... some interesting stats in there about how the death penalty has next to no effect as a deterrent.

not really I doubt several bullets smashing my brain to pieces simultaneously or about 4-5 of those bolt guns they kill cows with, would hurt very much, if i had to choose between that poison, or electricity, I'd take massive and complete brain destruction any day.


It may not be a deterrent, but its 100% guaranteed to stop re-offenders, which is what it really should be for.

 

[Ben M]

I'm planning on watching it.

 

[Vonhelmet]

not really I doubt several bullets smashing my brain to pieces simultaneously or about 4-5 of those bolt guns they kill cows with, would hurt very much, if i had to choose between that poison, or electricity, I'd take massive and complete brain destruction any day.

I don't think firing squads shoot people in the head, but I could be wrong.

I'm not sure why you'd pick any of these over lethal injection done properly i.e. massive dose of barbiturates, which would kill you painlessly in seconds.

It may not be a deterrent, but its 100% guaranteed to stop re-offenders, which is what it really should be for.

Except it costs a fortune, takes forever to get round to it, and is utterly irrevocable in the event of mistakes being made.

Also, there's this neat idea where you rehabilitate criminals to stop them re-offending, rather than just killing them. Radical, I know.

 

[Glaucus]

That's absolutely shocking and disgusting. They can't even use doctors to carry out the lethal injection due to the oath.

 

[Tefal]

I don't think firing squads shoot people in the head, but I could be wrong.

I'm not sure why you'd pick any of these over lethal injection done properly i.e. massive dose of barbiturates, which would kill you painlessly in seconds.

i never said a firing squad, i wast thinking some kind of helmet with several chambers built in to fires directly into the brain.

And i mentioned pain as from ah2's post it seamed there was dispute over weather it was painless.

when will it be on the iplayer?

 

[Vonhelmet]

i never said a firing squad, i wast thinking some kind of helmet with several chambers built in to fires directly into the brain.

O_o

And i mentioned pain as from ah2's post it seamed there was dispute over weather it was painless.

Whether lethal injection was painless? It's almost certainly painless. The question is whether it's cruel and unusual, as it takes a fair bit of time.

 

[Glaucus]

O_o



Whether lethal injection was painless? It's almost certainly painless. e.

Not if you watch the, the anaesthetic lasts 5mins and it takes at least 12 to die. That mean the muscle inhibitors act on you whilst conciuse for at least 8 minutes. With the sensation of being submerged in a fire. hardily painless.

This is the first program ever that has made me feel sad and shows me how we are still so barbaric even in the western world.

And as for electrocution No thanks I would rather get stabbed.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Not if you watch the, the anaesthetic lasts 5mins and it takes at least 12 to die. That mean the muscle inhibitors act on you whilst conciuse for at least 8 minutes. With the sensation of being submerged in a fire. hardily painless.

Fair enough... I did note that lethal injection would be a lot more straightforward if they just upped the dose of barbiturates and did it the same way that we put animals down. By the time your lungs and heart give out, your brain is long since unconscious.

 

[[TR]SweetSpotOz]

Why don't they knock them out using the usual general anaesthetic and then use the lethal injection?

 

[Glaucus]

why can't they just do what he's going through now. Hypoxia. altitude sickness. Or why not carbon monoxide?

 

[[TR]SweetSpotOz]

why can't they just do what he's going through now. Hypoxia. altitude sickness. Or why not carbon monoxide?

I don't know but I don't see what is wrong with my suggestion!

 

[Muffin`]

why can't they just do what he's going through now. Hypoxia. altitude sickness. Or why not carbon monoxide?

Suffication, like with a few other 'inhumane' methords.

 

[Tefal]

O_o



Whether lethal injection was painless? It's almost certainly painless. The question is whether it's cruel and unusual, as it takes a fair bit of time.

s the American Supreme Court examines whether the lethal injection is causing prisoners to die in unnecessary pain,

in the op

although i don't see why they don't just give you the same anaesthetic they do for surgery then give you a massive dose of strychnine or something.


Although some kind of helmet/brace in which 5 bolt guns are inserted around then all fired at once would be as instant as you can get i think.

 

[Glaucus]

Suffication, like with a few other 'inhumane' methords.

with certain elements like carbon monoxide you do not feel it. that's why it's the silent killer. Although it is suffocation, your body does not respond to it.

*Compounds like CO

Although if you are going to kill someone you should be certain they did it. If you are absolutely certain they did it then they should have a horrid death, IMO.

I totally disagree. punishment should never ever be about revenge.

 

[[TR]SweetSpotOz]

*Compounds like CO

Although if you are going to kill someone you should be certain they did it. If you are absolutely certain they did it then they should have a horrid death, IMO.

 

[Glaucus]

I hope they finally see sense and ban capital punishment. But if not what can't they use hypoxia with inert gases. No pain and you die in a euphoria state.