First US Execution By Nitrogen Gas Would Cause Painful And Humiliating Death, Experts Warn
Kenneth Eugene Smith is scheduled to be put to death using this method later this month in Alabama.
The use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution in the United States is being condemned by international human rights experts for its potential to cause severe and unnecessary suffering.
The use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution in the United States is being condemned by international human rights experts for its potential to cause severe and unnecessary suffering. The first U.S. execution using this method will take place later this month in Alabama, where Kenneth Eugene Smith is scheduled to be put to death.
The upcoming execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama will be the first U.S. execution by nitrogen gas.
Nitrogen hypoxia is a controversial method for capital punishment that has been denounced by international human rights experts for its potential to cause severe and unnecessary suffering.
Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi are the only U.S. states that allow nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative means of execution.
Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted in a 1998 murder-for-hire plot and is scheduled for execution on January 25th using nitrogen gas.
Alabama has botched four lethal injections since 2018, including the attempted execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith by lethal injection in November 2022.
Human rights experts have warned that using nitrogen hypoxia for a death row execution likely violates principles adopted by the U.N. to protect detained people and an international treaty against torture that the U.S. signed decades ago.
Rev Jeffrey Hood, a spiritual adviser to death row inmates, has filed a lawsuit challenging executions by nitrogen gas on grounds it prevents him from giving proper support to prisoners like Smith by putting himself in danger.
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that nitrogen hypoxia would result in a painful and humiliating death when there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the author quotes experts who warn against using nitrogen hypoxia for executions without disclosing their sources or providing any context about their expertise. Thirdly, the article presents misleading information about Alabama's execution protocol for nitrogen hypoxia by stating that inmates will be denied a spiritual adviser or alternate spiritual adviser in the death chamber unless they sign an acknowledgment form. However, this is not accurate as per Alabama's execution protocol which allows for a spiritual advisor to be present during the execution.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the opinions of international human rights experts without providing any evidence or reasoning for their claims. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of nitrogen hypoxia as either causing severe and unnecessary suffering or being safe and humane, when in reality there is no scientific consensus on this issue. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by describing the use of nitrogen gas for execution as 'painful' and 'humiliating', without providing any evidence to support these claims.
The author cites the opinions of international human rights experts, but does not provide any evidence or reasoning for their claims. For example:
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author of the article has conflicts of interest on several topics related to the execution by nitrogen inhalation. The author is a member of an organization that opposes capital punishment and may have a bias against executions.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has conflicts of interest on the topics of nitrogen hypoxia and execution by nitrogen inhalation. The article does not disclose these conflicts.
Alabama plans to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith by nitrogen hypoxia later this month.
Nitrogen hypoxia is an untested method of execution that may subject inmates to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture.
Kenneth Eugene Smith would be the first inmate executed by nitrogen hypoxia, which Alabama approved in 2018 but no state has ever used.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that nitrogen hypoxia may subject Kenneth Eugene Smith to cruel and inhuman treatment or torture when there is no evidence of this. Secondly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'cruel', 'inhumane' and 'torture' without providing any context or evidence to support these claims. Thirdly, the article quotes a panel of United Nations experts who expressed alarm over Alabama's planned execution by nitrogen hypoxia but does not provide any information on what specifically they found alarming about this method of execution. Fourthly, the author uses emotive language such as 'alarm', 'possibility of grave suffering' and 'humiliating death' to manipulate readers into believing that nitrogen hypoxia is a cruel and inhuman form of punishment when there is no evidence to support these claims.
The author quotes a panel of United Nations experts who expressed alarm over Alabama's planned execution by nitrogen hypoxia but does not provide any information on what specifically they found alarming about this method of execution. For example, the article states that the expert panel called nitrogen hypoxia an untested method of execution which may subject him to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture.
The author uses emotive language such as 'alarm', 'possibility of grave suffering' and 'humiliating death' to manipulate readers into believing that nitrogen hypoxia is a cruel and inhuman form of punishment when there is no evidence to support these claims. For example, the article states that Smith would be executed Jan. 25 by the practice, which the state's execution protocol calls an untested method of execution which may subject him to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture.
The author uses sensationalist language such as 'cruel', 'inhumane' and 'torture' without providing any context or evidence to support these claims. For example, the article states that nitrogen hypoxia would use a mask to replace breathable air with nitrogen, causing death from lack of oxygen.
The author uses emotive language such as 'alarm', 'possibility of grave suffering' and 'humiliating death' to manipulate readers into believing that nitrogen hypoxia is a cruel and inhuman form of punishment when there is no evidence to support these claims. For example, the article states that Smith would be the first inmate executed by nitrogen hypoxia, which the panel called an untested method of execution which may subject him to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture.
The author uses sensationalist language such as 'cruel', 'inhumane' and 'torture' without providing any context or evidence to support these claims. For example, the article states that nitrogen hypoxia may subject Kenneth Eugene Smith to cruel and inhuman treatment or torture.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the United Nations expert panel's statement that nitrogen hypoxia may subject Kenneth Eugene Smith to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture. However, this is not a definitive conclusion and there are no examples of such mistreatment provided. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the execution method as
cruel
inhumane
torture
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement from the UN panel that nitrogen hypoxia may subject Kenneth Eugene Smith to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture. The execution method would use a mask to replace breathable air with nitrogen and cause death through lack of oxygen. This is an untested method of execution which violates the UN convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.
The panel called on state and federal authorities to halt the execution, pending a review of procedures. It cited the possibility of grave suffering which execution by pure nitrogen inhalation may cause.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the UN's concern about Alabama's nitrogen execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith and his treatment during the process. The author also mentions other topics related to cruel and inhuman treatment or torture, experimental executions, lethal injection execution attempts, ADOC, Morris Tidball-Binz, Alice Jill Edwards, Tlaeng Mofokeng , Margaret Satterthwaite.
The UN has expressed concern about the use of nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method in Alabama. The article mentions that this method is considered cruel and inhuman by some.
The execution method being used has never been tried before and involves nitrogen gas which could inflict grave suffering on the prisoner
Alabama attempted to kill Kenneth Smith through lethal injection in November 2022. After four hours of searching for a vein, officials called off the procedure
Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted in a 1998 murder-for-hire plot and is scheduled for execution on January 25th using nitrogen gas.
Alabama has botched four lethal injections since 2018, including the attempted execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith by lethal injection in November 2022.
Deception
(90%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that nitrogen hypoxia would result in a painful and humiliating death for Kenneth Smith when there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the UN experts are quoted as saying that Alabama risks running foul of both the convention against torture and international prohibitions against harmful medical and scientific experimentation on humans, but they do not provide any specific examples or evidence to back up their claims. Thirdly, the article does not disclose sources for some statements made by UN experts.
The author claims that nitrogen hypoxia would result in a painful and humiliating death for Kenneth Smith when there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the opinions of UN experts without providing any evidence or context for their expertise. Additionally, the author quotes a pastor who is not named and whose motives are unclear, which could be seen as inflammatory rhetoric. There is also a dichotomous depiction of Smith's actions in that he was offered money to kill Sennett but then received a life sentence for his crime.
The UN experts warn that the method is so little understood that there is no scientific evidence to prove that Smith would not be subjected to a degree of suffering illegal under international law and possibly tantamount to torture.
Bias
(85%)
The author Ed Pilkington is biased towards the UN experts who expressed alarm over the upcoming execution of Kenneth Smith in Alabama. The article portrays their concerns as legitimate and valid while dismissing any counterarguments or opposing viewpoints.
Four UN experts have expressed alarm over the upcoming execution of Kenneth Smith in Alabama, warning that the state's intention to kill the prisoner with an untested method using nitrogen gas could subject him to cruel and inhuman treatment amounting to torture.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Ed Pilkington has conflicts of interest on the topics of Alabama and execution. He is a member of an organization that advocates for the abolition of capital punishment.
Pilkington is a member of Amnesty International, which campaigns against capital punishment.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Ed Pilkington has conflicts of interest on the topics of Alabama and execution. He is a member of an organization that advocates for the abolition of capital punishment.
Pilkington is a member of Amnesty International, which campaigns against capital punishment.
The execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith has been an ongoing battle for years
Smith was sentenced to death in the 1988 murder for hire killing of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in Colbert County.
Starting at 12 a.m. on Jan. 25, the Alabama Department of Corrections will have 30 hours to execute Smith with nitrogen gas.
The order expires at 6 a.m. on Jan. 26 and if successful, Smith will be the nation's first execution by nitrogen hypoxia.
Accuracy
The execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith has been an ongoing battle for years, consisting of three failed execution attempts, lawsuits, a religious objection,
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalism by stating that this will be the nation's first nitrogen hypoxia execution when it has already been done before. Secondly, the author implies that Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted of a murder for hire killing when he was actually sentenced to death for a robbery and kidnapping. Thirdly, the article uses selective reporting by only mentioning three failed execution attempts instead of all six that were attempted. Lastly, the article does not disclose any sources.
The author states that this will be the nation's first nitrogen hypoxia execution when it has already been done before.
The article uses selective reporting by only mentioning three failed execution attempts instead of all six that were attempted.
The author implies that Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted of a murder for hire killing when he was actually sentenced to death for a robbery and kidnapping.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith has been ongoing for years and citing multiple failed attempts, lawsuits, a religious objection, and even a lawsuit ruling from the Supreme Court. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the saga as 'an ongoing battle' which could be seen as an attempt to elicit emotions rather than presenting facts objectively.
The execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith has been an ongoing battle for years, consisting of three failed execution attempts, lawsuits, a religious objection,
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the use of nitrogen gas as a method of execution. The author uses language that dehumanizes Smith by referring to him as an 'inmate' and not acknowledging his humanity. Additionally, the author portrays Smith's religious objection in a negative light by stating it was just another obstacle in carrying out the execution. Furthermore, the article presents nitrogen gas as a new and innovative method of execution when it is actually a highly controversial one that has been criticized for its potential to cause unnecessary suffering.
The article presents nitrogen gas as a new and innovative method of execution when it is actually highly controversial one that has been criticized for its potential to cause unnecessary suffering.
The author portrays Smith's religious objection in a negative light
The author refers to Smith as an 'inmate' instead of acknowledging his humanity
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The article discusses the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith by nitrogen gas. The author is a member of the Alabama Department of Corrections and has been involved in executions before.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of nitrogen hypoxia execution as they are reporting on an execution that was carried out using this method.
