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AnswerIn case the condemned receives a stay of execution at the last minute.

Since no one knows if the condemned will be receive a stay at the last minute, standard medical infection rules apply. This includes swabbing the IV area with alcohol and iodine as well as using sterile, one-time-use needles.

Regardless of setting, using sterilized needles makes things safer for everyone involved. It avoids any improper infection, making cause of death easier to rule. Also, having sterilized needles prevents staff members from getting any infection due to cross-contamination.

It does seem counter-intuitive, yes. But since the main reason is to keep the condemned healthy until death is administered, spending the extra time to sanitize and sterilize is well worth it.

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They use a new needle each time, and all new needles are pre-sterilized. There is really no symbolic meaning behind the use of a sterile needle; standard precautions (clean or sterile techniques) are used in all medical procedures, including lethal injection. This protects the person inserting the IV, and anyone else handling "sharps," and is not just for the benefit of the person being executed.

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The rules regarding the method for state executions are quite specific, and if someone is supposed to be executed with a lethal injection of a specific chemical then that needs to be what they ultimately die of. Obviously a flu virus being on the needle won't make any difference, but if the needle is contaminated by something that affects how the chemical works then the cause of death will be different to that which has been permitted, and whoever administered it will face serious legal problems. Especially if the contaminated needle makes what is intended to be a quick and painless execution prolonged and painful.

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13y ago
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12y ago

The needles are mass produced for all medical needs and as such, during production all batches are sterilised.

Also, in the rare case of a condemed prisoner surviving the act of execution (in which case they receive a pardon), the needles are sterilized so that the prisoner will not get an infection and therefore sue the state.

To add to the preceding paragraph, you don't receive a pardon if you survive a lethal injection or an electric shock, they'll just try again at a later date.

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14y ago

This is standard medical practice. If the condemned prisoner receives a stay of execution after the IV needles are inserted but before the drugs are administered, he will be protected from infection.

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Q: Why are lethal injection needles sterilized?
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Related questions

Why are sterrilised needles used on death by lethal injection?

Because that is common medical practise.


Can you reverse lethal injection?

No.


Is lethal injection legal?

yes lethal injection is mostly a type of execution method so it is cosidered legal


Is lethal injection the only way to carry out the death penalty?

Lethal injection is the only option at this time for the death penalty.


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By lethal injection.


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lethal injection


Does Texas have lethal injection?

yes.


What options are there for the death penalty in the US?

AnswerLife in prison or the death penaltyAnswerThe 35 states that still have capital punishment were transitioning toward using lethal injection for most executions, when medical evidence indicated the drugs may not be working as expected, and may cause the prisoner to undergo conscious asphyxiation. At least one state (Nevada) has reverted to using the electric chair, and several others have declared a temporary moratorium on executions. A few states allow a choice between injection and one other method, such as the gas chamber, electrocution, hanging, or a firing squad, usually for offenders who were sentenced or committed their crimes before a certain date.Execution Methods by StateAlabama..................Choice of lethal injection or electrocutionArkansas.................Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution if convicted before 1983)Arizona...................Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution if convicted before November 1992)California................Choice of lethal injection or gas chamberColorado.................Lethal injectionConnecticut.............Lethal injectionDelaware................Lethal injection (or choice of hanging if convicted before June 13, 1986)Florida....................Choice of lethal injection or electrocutionGeorgia..................Lethal injectionIdaho.....................Lethal injection (or firing squad if injection is impractical)Illinois....................Lethal injectionIndiana..................Lethal injectionKansas...................Lethal injectionKentucky................Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution if sentenced before March 31, 1998)Louisiana................Lethal injectionMaryland................Lethal injection (or choice of gas chamber if sentenced before March 25, 1994)Missouri.................Choice of lethal injection or gas chamberMississippi..............Lethal injectionMontana.................Lethal injectionNorth Carolina.........Lethal injectionNebraska................Lethal injectionNew Hampshire.......Lethal injection (or hanging if injection is impractical)Nevada..................Lethal injectionOhio......................Lethal injectionOklahoma..............Lethal injection (or electrocution or firing squad if injection is declared unconstitutional)Oregon..................Lethal injectionPennsylvania..........Lethal injectionSouth Carolina........Choice of lethal injection or electrocutionSouth Dakota.........Lethal injectionTennessee..............Lethal injection (or choice of electrocution for offenses before December 31, 1998)Texas....................Lethal injectionUtah.....................Lethal injection (or firing squad if injection is declared unconstitutional)Virginia.................Choice of lethal injection or electrocutionWashington...........Choice of lethal injection or hangingWyoming...............Lethal injection (or gas chamber if injection is declared unconstitutional)Federal.................Method of state where sentence was imposedMilitary.................Lethal injectionAnswerOklahoma was the first jurisdiction to authorize lethal injection May 1977. 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Nebraska required electrocution until February 2008.GASSINGCalifornia authorizes gassing as an alternative to lethal injection. North Carolina similarly authorized gassing until October 1998. Arizona authorizes gassing for prisoners sentenced to death before November 15, 1992. Maryland authorizes gassing if the prisoner was sentenced to death for crimes committed before March 25, 1994. Wyoming no longer authorizes the use of gassing but gassing is designated to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection can't be administered. Missouri either authorizes gassing as an alternative to lethal injection or designates gassing to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection cannot be administered - no one is certain except the State Legislature.HANGINGWashington State authorizes hanging as an alternative to lethal injection. Delaware and New Hampshire no longer authorize hanging but hanging is designated to supplant lethal injection if lethal injection cannot be administered.SHOOTINGUtah authorizes shooting if the prisoner was sentenced to death for crimes committed before May 3, 2004. Oklahoma doesn't authorize the use of shooting but shooting is designated to supplant electrocution if electrocution cannot be administered.JURISDICTIONS THAT FORMERLY AUTHORIZED ELECTROCUTIONAlabama - prescribed method until July 2002.Arkansas - prescribed method until July 1983.Florida - prescribed method until January 2000.Georgia - prescribed method until October 2001.Kentucky - prescribed method until March 1998.Mississippi - prescribed method until September 1954.Nebraska - prescribed method until February 2008.Oklahoma - prescribed method until May 1977.Pennsylvania - prescribed method until November 1990.South Carolina - prescribed method until June 1995.Tennessee - prescribed method until December 1998.Texas - prescribed method until August 1977.


How lethal injection works?

A lethal injection is exactly what it's name is. It's a lethal dose of a harmful drug or something along the same line. An overdose of a certain drug can also be called a lethal injection. The lethal injection is injected into the arm or where ever on the person and there is so much of that drug (or it's poison) that it causes your heart to stop beating and you die.


What is a Louisiana style execution?

Lethal injection.


Is Euthanasia the same as lethal injection?

Yes.


What does injection?

'Injection' means 'to put something in' It's usually talking about syringes or needles.