to not understand why it is so difficult to kill a human being humanely

[ReallyTired]

Animals are put to sleep or slaughtered for food every day. They do not suffer like this poor American did. People go under general anesthetic every day for major operations without mishap. Surely an excecution is easier to carry out than complex heart surgery.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-27220406

I don't want to discuss the pro and cons of captical punishment, but surely if the state is going to kill someone it can be done quickly and simply. Why is killing a person more complicated than killing a cow or a pig? I see no excuse for botched executions.

It's not performed by doctors and because private companies want to do it cheaply.

Trouble is, muddiboots, what you're saying amounts to compelling people to take their own life (by drinking the drink) or be tortured to death.

Leaving aside the moral arguments, there are practical considerations when you have a prisoner who doesn't have the mental capacity to decide. Someone, for example, like Troy Dugar, sentenced to death on his 16th birthday, and who left some of his last meal because he wanted to eat it "after the execution". How would you know he made the decision in full control of his mental faculties? How would you ensure his human rights were respected?

You just couldn't, so, appealing though your "choice" scenario might be to some, it would never work in practice.

neverthebride - pity is impossible in the face of the strength your post displays, I doubt anyone could do other than respect you for it.

Muddiboots

If you force 'consent' for sex at gun point, you're still raping that person. If you force a person to take their own life under threat of being tortured to death, you're still killing them.

neverthebride there aren't words. . I have spoken to other survivors of horrible crimes and had some of the same conversations. If anyone is allowed to want 'vengeance' it would be you, yet you don't.

neverthebride thank you for sharing your story and your view. I hope that I would always remain opposed to capital punishment in principle and practically (because I do not trust any legal system to always get it right).

weatherall I remember that documentary too. I thought it was fascinating. www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/broadband/tx/executions/ - there's a clip on YouTube.
What really struck me was that having investigated at length and come up with the optimum "humane" method, MP presented it to someone in authority (US) who made it clear that the state had no desire in having efficient, painless killing but wanted people to suffer; it rather undermined the whole exercise.

neverthebride

Thank you ladies. I was going to n/c but instead I've asked Mumsnet to remove my post because I don't want it to always be associated with my username if people search it.

I don't regret posting it, it felt good to say it if I'm honest but don't want it to be always on an internet forum iyswim.

There's a lot of shame associated with this kind of thing even when you know it's not your fault. Your responses made me feel ok for saying it so..(hugs).