The U.S. Department of Justice has decided to revoke its protocol for federal executions following a review that raised concerns about the use of pentobarbital in lethal injections.
The review identified potential risks of unnecessary pain and suffering associated with the drug, leading to the suspension of the protocol.
Attorney General Merrick Garland cited concerns over the uncertainty of whether pentobarbital injections could cause undue pain.
This led to the decision to withdraw the protocol, although the moratorium on federal executions remains in place for the time being.
Pentobarbital, a barbiturate, was used during the Trump administration in a series of federal executions, which resumed after a 17-year hiatus.
Its use has been controversial due to concerns that it can cause severe suffering, including pulmonary edema, which leads to a sensation of drowning.
The Justice Department’s decision aligns with broader reevaluations of capital punishment practices under the Biden administration.
President Joe Biden has expressed opposition to the death penalty, and his administration has placed a moratorium on federal executions since July 2021.
Human rights groups and legal experts have raised concerns about the use of pentobarbital, arguing that it violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
This pressure has contributed to the Justice Department’s decision to review and revoke the execution protocol.