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 We believe this law should be changed, as it is outdated and no longer reflects the standards of a "dignified death process".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.
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).
(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
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
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