USA - Missouri. The state has a new pharmacy to provide the drug pentobarbital for Michael Taylor's execution next Wednesday

The state of Missouri has secured a new pharmacy to provide the drug pentobarbital for use in Michael Taylor's execution next Wednesday. The pharmacy that will supply the drug remains unidentified, since it is considered part of the state's execution team. It has not yet been confirmed if the pharmacy has already provided the drug to the state. According to Taylor's lawyers, Missouri prison officials said they do have alternative drugs that they could use instead of pentobarbital, if needed. This follows a settlement between Taylor's lawyers and the Oklahoma pharmacy that was suspected of providing pentobarbital for Missouri's last 3 executions. Taylor filed a suit against the pharmacy, and earlier this week the pharmacy agreed not to provide the drug for use in Taylor's execution. Despite the implication of the lawsuit and settlement, the pharmacy did not confirm that it had supplied the drug to the state. According to The Associated Press, the office of Attorney General Chris Koster "said in a court filing on Wednesday that Missouri had arranged for a different pharmacy to provide pentobarbital." (See also Feb. 17).