Is a humane and painless execution method possible, and if so, would death penalty proponents support its use? Or is pain the whole idea? Examining what many see as the cruelty of current procedures, this program searches for a viable alternative. Experts in the death business—retired executioners, toxicologists, biomechanics specialists, and others—explain disturbing flaws in the use of electrocution, hanging, lethal injection, and the gas chamber. Whether or not physicians should take part in executions is also discussed. The film presents a low-cost killing method that would induce euphoria—but this horrifies a prominent death penalty lobbyist because offenders wouldn’t suffer. A BBC Production. (50 minutes)
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