lethal injection

CORRECTIONAL MEDICINE

Definition The injection of a person with a combination of agents to cause rapid death. 

Reasons for performing lethal injection Usually for capital punishment, as performed on death row inmates in the USA; less commonly in other ethically charged situations–e.g., euthanasia and suicide.

Agents used for lethal injection

• Sedative—e.g., thiopental or pentobarbital, ultra-short acting barbiturates that put the person to sleep

• Paralysing agent–e.g., pancuronium bromide, a non-depolarising muscle relaxant that causes complete, rapid and sustained paralysis of skeletal/striated muscles, and

• Potassium chloride, which stops the heart.

Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_injection