Who will be executed and for what?
Kenneth Smith, 58, was hired in 1988 to help plan a staged contract killing. The mastermind behind the scheme was Charles Sennett Sr., a Protestant pastor at Christ Church in Sheffield. Facing debt and a troubled marriage, Sennett sought a financial exit by insuring his wife Elizabeth’s life and staging a home robbery that would end in her murder. Elizabeth was stabbed and struck with fireplace pokers, and responders arrived at a scene that suggested a fatal attack.
Emergency crews detected a pulse, and the minister nearly collapsed when informed of this finding. Elizabeth died in hospital after never regaining consciousness. Detectives moved quickly, and Sennett, initially suspected, later died by suicide. Billy Williams received a life sentence; Jim Parker was executed in 2010. Kenneth Smith faced a death sentence, but his path to execution became unusually complicated when doctors could not locate a usable vein for the standard lethal injection on November 17, 2022.
Rather than abandoning the sentence, prosecutors considered a new approach in the United States using nitrogen to induce death. This option emerged amid ongoing debates about alternative methods and how to implement them.
How does nitrogen application work?
According to the protocol, the execution process unfolds as follows:
- The condemned person is escorted to a dedicated cell and placed on a couch with arms and legs secured. A pulse oximeter monitors vital signs.
- A breathing mask is fitted to ensure a secure seal around the face.
- Upon request, a religious representative may be invited to administer rites appropriate to the individual’s faith tradition.
- Curtains are drawn to reveal witnesses, which in this case included two of Elizabeth Sennett’s sons.
- The execution order is read aloud. From that moment, the condemned has a brief window to speak a final message. Legal observers have raised concerns about whether a nitrogen mask might interfere with last prayers or statements due to reduced airflow during the process.
- The warden collaborates with the state corrections commissioner to verify every procedural detail and ensure nothing could delay the execution at the last moment.
- Staff confirm the mask’s seal for security.
- The nitrogen system is activated by the administrator.
- When a clear line appears on the ECG monitor, the transition to nitrogen proceeds, and the process continues for a defined period to ensure death follows the cardiac arrest signal.
- After the execution, curtains are drawn again, and witnesses depart.
- The cleric leaves the cell once the rites are complete.
How much does it hurt?
Human rights advocates and defense attorneys argue against the method, citing constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. They note that nitrogen hypoxia has not been extensively tested in capital punishment contexts, raising questions about potential pain or distress. International experts and the United Nations have urged a pause to assess safety and humanity before proceeding.
Many scientists, however, view nitrogen hypoxia as a relatively gentle way to end a life. Proponents describe a gradual loss of consciousness triggered by reduced oxygen, similar to high-altitude experiences where oxygen is scarce. A prominent biologist from a major national university has pointed out that sustained nitrogen delivery after initial brain activity ceases may help prevent distress. The idea is that continuous nitrogen flow reduces the chance of lingering sensations once consciousness fades.
Historical physiology anecdotes describe early experiments where animals under restricted conditions showed distress briefly but recovered when air returned. While these stories are old, they are cited in discussions about how the body’s remaining oxygen interacts with nitrogen exposure. Contemporary experts emphasize that any execution must follow strict oversight and review to avoid unnecessary suffering and ensure procedural integrity.
What are the alternatives?
Across the United States, legal methods for carrying out capital punishment vary by state. Traditional options have included hanging, shooting, the electric chair, gas chamber, and lethal injection. Nitrogen hypoxia would add a sixth method to the existing framework. While hanging and shooting have largely fallen out of use, the electric chair and lethal injections persist in practice. Reform advocates argue that these older methods can cause severe distress and a prolonged dying process, fueling ongoing debates about humane punishment.
Critics describe the electric chair as producing intense physical suffering, including involuntary bodily reactions and extended agony, while many view lethal injections as comparatively less painful though not without controversy. Costs and supply constraints of injection drugs have driven some states to consider alternatives. In this evolving landscape, nitrogen hypoxia is presented as a potential option that would require careful legal, medical, and ethical scrutiny before adoption. Experts stress that any shift must prioritize minimizing pain and upholding constitutional protections while ensuring robust procedural safeguards.
As with any new method, the discussion centers on balancing justice with humanity. The ongoing dialogue shapes how capital punishment is viewed, applied, and monitored within the U.S. legal system, while states weigh practicalities and moral implications of adopting nitrogen-based executions.