Legal controversy over lethal injections

Re “Death Penalty Faces Tough Review,” Sept. 26

I understand the legal controversy as to whether a lethal injection inflicts unreasonable pain on a condemned inmate. I also understand why physicians are reluctant to administer these fatal drugs.

Many people commit suicide painlessly by inhaling the carbon monoxide fumes of a running car engine in a closed space or garage. The gas is not easily detected by human senses. Surely some similar arrangement could be undertaken to humanely execute death row inmates. Of course, death would not be as sudden and dramatic as lethal injection, but at that point, what’s the rush?

ALAN CANTWELL

Hollywood

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As an anesthesiologist, I agree that a prisoner could be awake and even feel pain during a lethal injection. As a human, I abhor the killing of any sentient being. However, only a group of lawyers could create a system in which an individual can be assigned a date and time and put through the elaborate ritual surrounding an execution, yet not find this cruel but worry whether the condemned feels pain.

Since it is not possible to interview a deceased person, how do we know whether any form of execution causes pain or not, or, in fact, whether a person shot by the police or one of our soldiers (other government-sanctioned killings) hurts before dying? Nobody seems concerned about putting a moratorium on these activities. Why don’t we just admit that while any form of killing is certainly not unusual in our world, it is cruel?

JEFFREY S. LEE MD

Newport Beach

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I find it hard to believe that anyone would bother taking this case to court. With all the other things going on in this world, suddenly we are concerned with the ethical treatment of human scum. I find it absurd that anyone is concerned with making lethal injection as “humane” as possible.

These people are on death row for a reason. I seriously doubt these inmates worried about being humane to their victims. Maybe we should spend our time worrying about real issues rather than figuring out a more humane way to kill people.

DANIEL BALDAN

Northridge