Opinion ID: 204393
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: arizona's lethal injection protocol

Text: Under the Protocol, an execution is carried out by two teamsthe Special Operations Team (SOT) and the Medical Team. SOT's primary duty is to administer the chemicals. It consists of at least seven medically trained individuals and a team leader; all members must undergo a screening panel and individual interview prior to joining SOT. SOT members must participate in at least ten execution rehearsals per year, and, if a Warrant of Execution issues, train weekly up until the execution. The Medical Team, which has at least two members, is responsible for inserting the intravenous (IV) catheters through which the chemicals are injected, preparing the chemicals and supervising their administration, and monitoring the inmate. Members of the Medical Team (MTMs) must be medically trained personnel, such as physicians, physician assistants, nurses, or emergency medical technicians; they must have at least one year of current and relevant professional experience in their assigned duties. MTMs's professional qualifications, training, experience, professional licenses and certifications are checked prior to hiring. Licensing and criminal history reviews are conducted before hiring, annually and upon the issuance of a Warrant of Execution. The MTMs responsible for inserting the IVs and any MTMs without medical licenses must participate in at least ten rehearsals per year with SOT. All MTMs must participate in at least two rehearsals prior to participating in an actual execution. According to the Protocol, the chemicals must be administered through IV catheters inserted in the inmate's peripheral veins. The MTMs who place the peripheral lines must have at least one year of current and regular experience with the procedure. If it is not possible to place peripheral lines, an MTM can place a percutaneous central line in the femoral vein in the inmate's thigh. The MTM who places the central line must have at least one year of current and regular experience with the procedure. The MTMs and the SOT Leader directly observe the inmate throughout the administration of the chemicals, and monitor the inmate's face with a high-resolution, color video camera. A microphone is attached to the inmate's chest so that the teams can speak to and hear the inmate during the execution. The warden remains in the execution chamber throughout the procedure to observe the IV lines and notify the MTMs of any problems. After the sodium thiopental is administered, the MTMs confirm that the inmate is unconscious by sight and sound using the camera and microphone, and an MTM enters the execution chamber to physically confirm unconsciousness. If the inmate is conscious, the Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections may order the SOT members to administer an additional dose of sodium thiopental, and the MTMs go through the same steps to verify unconsciousness. The SOT members cannot administer the pancuronium bromide until the MTMs have confirmed that the inmate is unconscious and at least three minutes have elapsed from the commencement of the administration of the sodium thiopental. The IV lines are flushed with heparin/saline between each injection, to ensure that they are clean and functioning properly.