Why Secrecy Surrounds Lethal Injection Drugs In Georgia
Executions have been temporarily put on hold in Georgia, following an issue with the lethal injection drug in Monday’s night’s scheduled execution. The drug had appeared “cloudy,” according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.
The incident has raised questions about a state law that keeps the providers of the drug anonymous.
Georgia uses a lethal dose of one drug, pentobarbital – but where or who it comes from, or who prescribes it is kept a state secret. In 2013, the state passed a law to make it that way. House Representative Kevin Tanner, R-Dawsonville, sponsored the bill.
He said he stands by the law despite Monday night’s postponed execution.
“It shows the Department of Corrections has appropriate protocols in place at every step of the process. And when they see any irregularity, they immediately stopped the execution process,” Tanner said.
Tanner said the law protects the providers of the drug from any threats or harassment.
But critics say the problem with Monday night’s cloudy drug validates their opposition to secrecy. State Senator Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, voted against it two years ago.
“If you believe that this is what should be the policy of the state of Georgia to execute people at the hands of the state, then let’s have full accountability and transparency,” Orrock said.
Defendants on Georgia’s death row have raised challenges to the law, but the Georgia Supreme Court upheld it last year.
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