Thirteen states have made a joint request to the federal government on how to acquire sodium thiopental, an anesthetic that is used as part of a lethal execution drug and also for brief surgical procedures, according to a CNN news report.
The only U.S. manufacturer of sodium thiopental announced last month that it would stop producing the drug because it never intended for the drug to be used for lethal injections. In the request, which the U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing, states are also asking the federal government to share their supplies of the sodium thiopental drug.
States that have the death penalty are forced to consider postponing executions and look outside the country for supplies for the drug or other alternatives. However, there has been intense opposition to using alternatives. Specifically, six death row inmates have filed a federal lawsuit in efforts to prevent the Food and Drug Administration from importing "unsafe" alternatives.
Read the news report about the sodium thiopental drug shortage.
Read other coverage about drug shortages:
- Proposed Bill Addresses Drug Shortages
- Drug Shortages Could Force Physicians to Choose Risky Alternatives
- How to Temporarily Overcome Drug Shortage: Q&A With Sheldon Sones of Sheldon S. Sones and Associates
The only U.S. manufacturer of sodium thiopental announced last month that it would stop producing the drug because it never intended for the drug to be used for lethal injections. In the request, which the U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing, states are also asking the federal government to share their supplies of the sodium thiopental drug.
States that have the death penalty are forced to consider postponing executions and look outside the country for supplies for the drug or other alternatives. However, there has been intense opposition to using alternatives. Specifically, six death row inmates have filed a federal lawsuit in efforts to prevent the Food and Drug Administration from importing "unsafe" alternatives.
Read the news report about the sodium thiopental drug shortage.
Read other coverage about drug shortages:
- Proposed Bill Addresses Drug Shortages
- Drug Shortages Could Force Physicians to Choose Risky Alternatives
- How to Temporarily Overcome Drug Shortage: Q&A With Sheldon Sones of Sheldon S. Sones and Associates