Khan Arif, Leventhal Robyn M
Northwest Clinical Research Center, Bellevue, WA, USA.
J Forensic Sci. 2002 Jul;47(4):847-51.
Between 1976 and the middle of 2001, approximately 718 human executions occurred in the U.S. (a small segment of worldwide executions). Data regarding the medical aspects of these executions are not readily available. We searched all public domain data in the U.S. to obtain specific data for all persons executed in the U.S. since 1976. Of the five methods of execution used (lethal injection, lethal gas, electrocution, hanging, and firing squad), significant differences emerged as measured by rate of complications, duration of time spent by the condemned in the "death chamber," as well as duration of time from the onset of execution procedures to pronouncement of death. These data suggest that human executions are difficult to carry out. Human executions are associated with significant physical complications. These data may help inform future discussions on human executions.
1976年至2001年年中期间，美国大约执行了718次死刑（占全球死刑执行数量的一小部分）。关于这些死刑执行医学方面的数据难以获取。我们检索了美国所有公开领域的数据，以获取自1976年以来在美国被处决的所有人的具体数据。在所使用的五种处决方式（注射死刑、毒气死刑、电刑、绞刑和行刑队枪决）中，从并发症发生率、被定罪者在“死刑室”所花费的时间长短以及从执行程序开始到宣布死亡的时间长短等方面衡量，出现了显著差异。这些数据表明，执行死刑存在困难。执行死刑会引发严重的身体并发症。这些数据可能有助于为未来关于死刑的讨论提供参考。
