Category: Death Penalty

INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON INNOCENCE CASE OF KEITH DOOLIN CONTINUES WITH AIRING OF NEW DOCU-SERIES IN THE UK ON APRIL 19

4/9/2018

After a first airing of a new 4-part docu-series on the innocence case of Keith Doolin last month in France, the documentary will now be aired on 19 April in the UK (Channel REALLY).

Read more about the case on the SAVE Keith Doolin page

Read more on the fight of his mother Donna Larsen to help save the life of her son in The Mirror today:

Is this how medical personnel conceal their identity WHEN PARTICIPATING TO EXECUTIONS IN FLORIDA?

11/19/2017

In the recent weeks, we have commented on Mike Lambrix's execution process that involved medical personnel who were concealing their identity -- something which is legal under the current Florida law. We believe this law should be changed, as it is outdated and no longer reflects the standards of a "dignified death process".
As Mike Lambrix's funeral just ended (on November 17th, 2017), we are releasing here an article he wrote back in 2010, discussing further his experience with another prisoner on death row who went through the same process.

Typical Personal Protective Equipment for Preventing Exposure to Ebola Virus
(Independent picture, featured here for the purpose of illustration and debate).

At the time Mike Lambrix had been transferred temporarily to Florida State Prison. This was an opportunity to meet with a fellow inmate, Paul Johnson, who just had received himself a stay of execution. Paul Johnson described to Mike Lambrix the execution preparation procedure that involved of covered up doctors. He wrote:

"So, of course I asked Paul how they do it now. Although it may seem a little morbid for two condemned prisoners to compare notes on how the state intended to kill them, when you’ve lived in the shadow of death for as long as me and Paul have, it is just part of ‘normal’ conversation.

But not even I could not have anticipated the horror that Paul described. Apparently the state is now concerned about reaching that hour of execution only to find that the prisoner’s veins are damaged and then there may be a problem in killing him, as there have been numerous executions, such as that of Angel Diaz, who was slowly and deliberately tortured to death (...) which they claimed was his fault as his veins were damaged from years of drug use.

So now they’ve come up with a new procedure which to my knowledge has never been publicly exposed before, and should certainly shock the conscience of any person of conscience:

Here’s how Paul described it to me ~
about a week after he was moved down to the bottom of Q wing, where Florida’s death house is, suddenly the back door that leads to the actual execution chamber opened.(...)
Through this door walked in at least four,
perhaps even six people who were fully dressed in plastic ~ like suits and a full helmet/mask over their head like we have often seen in the movies ~ such as those who handle nuclear waste.
Slowly they marched single file only to stop in front of Paul’s death watch cell, then facing him they demanded to examine his veins. Paul says that even the small widow in the front of their uniforms was concealed, so that he could not see their faces.

As if he were nothing more than a piece of meat, without showing even the slightest semblance of humanity, this state sanctioned ‘death squad’ coldly examined Paul’s veins on his arms and talked openly among themselves about how his veins seemed to be alright. Paul was ordered to stand there as they took turns examining each arm, agreeing with each other that they would have no problem inserting the lethal chemicals to deliberately put a man to death.

Once they all agreed that Paul’s veins would pose no problems when they were called to kill him, then they turned and filed back through that solid steel door that leads to the execution chamber.

I cannot even imagine this utterly surreal scene that Paul described ~ nor can I imagine how unconscionable such an act is.

Never before, other than the infamous death squads of third world countries, have I heard of a group of deliberately concealed and masked men approach a condemned prisoner and without even a hint of humanity, coldly examine him with the intent to put him to death. This is America, we don’t have masked death squads that serve the government and it shocks me that they would do such a thing. But I have also to wonder- am I the only one who is shocked by the use of death squads in the USA? What does it say about the society we have become that a state government can act in such an unconscionable and inhumane manner? Equally so, what does it say about our so-called civilized society that others are not as equally shocked by this?.

This article from Mikchael Lambrix was published originally in 2010 on
deathrowjournals.blogspot.gr

Florida should introduce new laws TO ALLOW A MORE DIGNIFIED DEATH PROCESS FOR PRISONERS FACING EXECUTION

11/12/2017

A memorial service has been held today for Mike Lambrix, executed by the State of Florida on October 5, 2017. His funeral will finally be held next November 17, more than a month later after his death. Not only Mike Lambrix never got to know who his executioner was, his family had to wait that long after his cremation to bury his urn in the family cemetery plot.
This raises the question as to whether the State of Florida should introduce new robust safeguards in support of a more dignified death process. Such laws already exists for terminally ill people in other states. Shouldn't prisoners facing execution enjoy similar rights as terminally ill people?

Mike Lambrix will be part of an art exhibition "Noble is Man"
at the Center of Nobel Peace in Oslo next September 2018.
He has always maintained his innocence.
Credit Photo: Rune Eraker

What is the issue?

The current legislation in Florida does not allow prisoners on death row or any other parties to learn the identity of those participating in their executions. In particular, under the 2017 Florida Statute, article 945.10(g), Information [held by the Department of Corrections] which identifies an executioner, or any person prescribing, preparing, compounding, dispensing, or administering a lethal injection, are confidential.
It has been long argued that this law breaches any standard of decency when it comes to executions, which are carried out in somewhat absurd conditions. As noted by the Associated Press as early as 2007:

Doctors hired to monitor and participate
in lethal injection executions wear purple "moon suits" and goggles to conceal their identities from witnesses and circumvent an American Medical Association (AMA) code that forbids participation in executions, according to the Associated Press. Though Florida and other states say the participation of medical personnel ensures "a dignified and humane death" for those facing execution, the AMA, the American Nurses Association, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Florida Medical Association all disagree.
Source: Associated Press, August 26, 2007 (Read more)

Ten years down the line, the situation remains essentially the same, as testified by Mike Lambrix, at the time of his execution, who compared the process he went through to "an adventure": The physician who checked his veins was masked, whispering to others. not communicating with him directly nor disclosing his identity. Mike Lambrix never got to know whether the person who checked his veins was actually even a physician.

Whilst such process might has been qualified in the past as providing "a dignified and humane death" in the past, it is clear that Florida should now further reflect on the evolving standards of physicians assisted death that exist in other states.

What are the laws that exist in other states?

Death with Dignity laws, also known as physician-assisted dying or aid-in-dying laws are laws that provides safeguards to protect terminally ill patients and prevents misuse. For example, two physicians must confirm the patient’s residency, diagnosis, prognosis, mental competence. Whilst Death in Dignity laws exist only for terminally ill patients, they could provide inspiration for reinventing the legal framework that would allow a more dignified death process of prisoners facing execution.

Physician-assisted dying laws today already exist in

California (End of Life Option Act; 2016)
Colorado (End of Life Options Act; 2016)
District of Columbia (Death with Dignity Act; 2017)
Oregon (Oregon Death with Dignity Act; 1994/1997)
Vermont (Patient Choice and Control at the End of Life Act; 2013)
Washington (Washington Death with Dignity Act; 2008)

There is no legislative activity around Death with Dignity in Florida.

Did Mike Lambrix enjoy less rights than a dying stray dog at the time of his execution?

11/5/2017

When Mike Lambrix was executed in Florida last October 5, some of his friends were choked by an information he gave them in respect to the medical procedure behind the preparation of his execution, leading to this question:

Did Mike Lambrix enjoy less rights than a dying stray dog?

Under the 2017 Florida Statute 828.058(4)(a): "Euthanasia [of dogs and cats] shall be performed only by a licensed veterinarian or an employee or agent of a public or private agency, animal shelter, or other facility that is operated for the collection and care of stray, neglected, abandoned, or unwanted animals, provided the employee or agent has successfully completed a 16-hour euthanasia technician certification course."

Did the people involved in Mike Lambrix's execution have any such certification at all? We do not know.

As his family is preparing a memorial service for Michael Lambrix, his close friend Geesje offers her reflection on his execution.

Mike Lambrix will be part of an art exhibition "Noble is Man"
at the Center of Nobel Peace in Oslo next September 2018.
He always maintained his innocence.

"Michael Lambrix was executed on October 5, 2017. I've been a friend of his for 14 years and I visited him several times over the years. Michael Lambrix was also a much beloved son, brother, father and a long time friend to many.

I'm deeply troubled by something he wrote a week before his execution":

“And shortly after they removed all my property,
the warden came down with a few people from Medical. I can only assume that it was the “doctor” responsible for carrying out the execution. They went to great lengths to conceal his identity, as although I could tell he was an upper middle aged white man, maybe just a bit shorter than I am, he was dressed from head to toe in a light baby blue hazmat suit, which included a white surgical mask. So all I could see of him was his eyes. He kept his head down — probably some part of him has to be ashamed of making a living putting people to death.

(...) With total detachment, I was ordered to extend my arm through the cell-front bars and this masked man proceeded to touch my veins at the inner elbow, first the left arm and then the right, while whispering to another man standing beside him, and that was that.
Now they were ready to kill me.
Yep, not just a job — it’s an adventure.”
Mike Lambrix

I wonder: Why was he covered from head to toe, with only his eyes visible?
There was absolutely no medical reason for this.

Was he hiding his identity, or was he ashamed of what he was doing?
Why was he not facing Michael, looking him in the eyes, introducing himself, or even speaking to him?

Michael Lambrix was a person, a human being, not a thing that needed to be expelled of. To me, it seems as heartless as giving a kick to a dying stray dog.

I need to understand the reason for, what seems to me, an unreasonable cruelty inflicted upon a defenceless man facing death. I understand the necessity of checking someone's veins before you execute him, after all you don't want any last minute nasty surprises, but surely it doesn't have to be this way?

When asked the warden of Florida State Prison (Warden Barry Reddish) about this, the reply was:

The Florida Department of Corrections supports a dignified death process for those inmates with an active death warrant. The identity of the medical providers involved in the death process is restricted by Florida Statute, thus it’s not open to public disclosure"

I'm struggling with the words: "Dignified death process".
What is dignified or even remotely decent about any of this??

If we have to have the death penalty, there is no need to treat condemned people in their final days like sub-humans, any person facing death should be treated with some dignity and compassion."

<<Previous

INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON INNOCENCE CASE OF KEITH DOOLIN CONTINUES WITH AIRING OF NEW DOCU-SERIES IN THE UK ON APRIL 19

Is this how medical personnel conceal their identity WHEN PARTICIPATING TO EXECUTIONS IN FLORIDA?

Florida should introduce new laws TO ALLOW A MORE DIGNIFIED DEATH PROCESS FOR PRISONERS FACING EXECUTION

Did Mike Lambrix enjoy less rights than a dying stray dog at the time of his execution?

Categories