Opinion ID: 1697471
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Assessment of Consciousness

Text: As noted above, in terms of the Eighth Amendment, the critical point in the lethal injection process comes immediately prior to the injection of the second drug. The question is, has the condemned been rendered unconscious by the sodium pentathol? If so, then any meaningful risk of pain has been eliminated. Baze at 1530. Under the Kentucky protocol approved by the United States Supreme Court, an assessment of consciousness is apparently not written into the procedures. Justice Ginsberg, in her dissent in Baze, noted that there seems to be the lack of such a safeguard in the Kentucky procedures at this point. She cited favorably to the Florida procedures, which do contain specific written directions for the execution procedure to pause for an assessment of unconsciousness. Baze, J. Ginsberg, dissenting at 1571. Baze did not find a constitutional problem with the assessment of consciousness by a lay person without the use of particular medical equipment suggested by petitioners. In discussing the assessment of consciousness, it reiterated that a proper dose of sodium thiopenthal [thiopental] obviates the concern that a prisoner will not be sufficiently sedated. It found no constitutional violation in the use of a lay rough and ready testwhich would include such measures as eyelash touching and calling the person's name. Id. at 1536. Lightbourne reports the testimony of an expert who stated that a basis neurological assessment of consciousness can be taught to lay persons and that paramedics and EMTs know this extremely fundamental technique. Warden Cannon testified that the team warden would apply these basic techniques, which include eyelash touch, shaking the inmate and calling his name. Under the current protocol, the team warden will consult with the medical members of the execution team in making his assessment of unconsciousness. Id. at 347-348. The Florida Supreme Court found that Lightbourne's objections to this method did not rise to the level of an Eighth Amendment violation. Id. at 351. The Court finds that the Florida protocol and methods of assessing unconsciousness are, at a minimum, substantially similar to Kentucky's as discussed in Baze, and, in fact, seem to provide a higher level of safety because of the written directive to halt the execution until a proper assessment is made.