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Cylinder compressed gases for oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and argon for welding and hospital
Humanize From Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism
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Death by Nitrogen: Cruel or Death with Dignity?

Originally published at National Review

Alabama just executed its second murderer by nitrogen. It was reportedly not pleasant:

Alan Eugene Miller, 59, was pronounced dead at a south Alabama prison. He shook and trembled on the gurney for about two minutes with his body at times pulling against the restraints. That was followed by about six minutes of gasping breathing.

And yet, we are told that suicide by nitrogen in the suicide pod is peaceful and dignified. So, which is it?

This is another example of what I call cruel and unusual death with dignity.

Wesley J. Smith

Chair and Senior Fellow, Center on Human Exceptionalism
Wesley J. Smith is Chair and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. Wesley is a contributor to National Review and is the author of 14 books, in recent years focusing on human dignity, liberty, and equality. Wesley has been recognized as one of America’s premier public intellectuals on bioethics by National Journal and has been honored by the Human Life Foundation as a “Great Defender of Life” for his work against suicide and euthanasia. Wesley’s most recent book is Culture of Death: The Age of “Do Harm” Medicine, a warning about the dangers to patients of the modern bioethics movement.