USA - Louisiana. Louisiana To Change Lethal Injection Procedure One Week Before Execution

Louisiana To Change Lethal Injection Procedure One Week Before Execution. Just one week before the scheduled execution of Christopher Sepulvado, Louisiana announced it is abandoning its attempt to find pentobarbital for its lethal injections and instead will apply a new procedure used only once before in the U.S. The state will adopt the two-drug procedure used by Ohio on January16 to execute Dennis McGuire, an execution that resulted in gasping sounds and movements by the inmate over an extended period of time. That procedure involved midazolam--a sedative--and hydromorphone--a painkiller. Gary Clements, an attorney for Mr. Sepulvado, said Louisiana is violating its own protocol, which requires that lethal injection drugs be obtained at least 30 days before an execution. "Just days before a scheduled execution, the State has significantly changed its execution protocol without independent oversight or public scrutiny," Clements said. "This once again demonstrates that the State is not prepared to move forward with Mr. Sepulvado’s scheduled execution in a manner that comports with state and federal laws, and the U.S. Constitution." Sepulvado's attorneys argue his due process rights are being violated by the lack of information about the manner of his execution, and his right to be spared cruel and unusual punishment would be violated by an execution using faulty drugs.