State of Ohio purchases drugs used for death penalty from company who objects its use

A report by The Associated Press published on MSN revealed that the state of Ohio's supplier of the drugs used for capital punishment of convicts is a company that has also supplied sedatives and painkillers to ease patients to recovery and save lives in the process.

Hospira Inc, a Lake Forest, Illinois-based pharmaceutical firm, rejected the use of their sedative midazolam and the painkiller hydromophone by the state of Ohio in capital punishment. Nonetheless, the company claimed that there's so much that it can do to remain socially responsible for the use of its products given the complexity of the supply chain and the grayness of the drug distribution market in the US. Hospira also added that it is unable to guarantee that a US prison will not be able to obtain products that are restricted outside the usual distribution process.

AP said that aside from the state of Ohio, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and several other states are having a challenge to acquire drugs needed to put convicts to death in a slowly-reducing market. The news wire report said that several drug makers had already banned the use of their pharmaceutical products for executions.

When asked by AP for comment about Hospira's statement regarding the use of its drugs for capital punishment, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction refused to do so.

The family of the late condemned inmate Dennis McGuire, had sued the state of Ohio for handing out a cruel and inhuman death. During McGuire's 26-minute execution on January 16 this year, AP said the inmate made gasp-like snoring sounds for several minutes before succumbing to his death. Because of the lawsuit, Governor John Kasich has delayed a scheduled execution until investigation into McGuire's capital punishment has been completed.

The state of Louisiana has announced its intention to use Hospira's midazolam and hydromophone, the same drugs used in McGuire's death, right after his death, AP said.

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Hospira Inc, Ohio, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas

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