The Execution Process

Florida's execution procedure, as detailed in the Florida Supreme Court ruling in the case of Sims vs. the state of Florida, March 3, 2000:

On the morning of the execution, the inmate will receive a physical examination, be given a Valium if necessary to calm anxiety, and will receive his or her last meal.

Next, the inmate will be taken to the execution room, where he will be strapped to a gurney and placed on a heart monitor. The inmate will then be injected with two IVs containing saline solution. He will then be escorted into the execution chamber where the witnesses will be able to view the execution.

While the inmate is being prepared, a pharmacist will prepare the lethal substances. In all, a total of eight syringes will be used, each of which will be injected in a consecutive order into the IV tube attached to the inmate:

• The first two syringes will contain "no less than" 2 grams of sodium pentothal, an ultra-short-acting barbiturate which renders the inmate unconscious.
• The third syringe will contain a saline solution to act as a flushing agent.
• The fourth and fifth syringes will contain no less than 50 milligrams of pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes the muscles.
• The sixth syringe will contain saline, again as a flushing agent. Finally, the seventh and eighth syringes will contain no less than 150 milliequivalents of potassium chloride, which stops the heart from beating.

Each syringe will be numbered to ensure that they are injected into the IV tube in the proper order. A physician will stand behind the executioner while the chemicals are being injected. The physician's assistance will also observe the execution and will certify the inmate's death upon completion of the execution. Moore testified that these procedures were created with the purpose of "accomplish[ing] our mission with humane dignity [while] carrying out the court's sentence."

On the issue of dosage, a defense expert admitted that only 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight is necessary to induce unconsciousness, and that a barbiturate coma is induced at 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Thus, two grams of sodium pentothal (i.e., 2000 milligrams) is a lethal dose and certain to cause rapid loss of consciousness (i.e., within 30 seconds of injection).

The expert further stated that muscle paralysis occurs at .1 milligram of pancuronium bromide per kilogram of body weight. Thus, 50 milligrams of pancuronium bromide far exceeds the amount necessary to achieve complete muscle paralysis.

Finally, the expert admitted that 150 to 250 milliequivalents of otassium chloride would cause the heart to stop if injected quickly into the inmate and that an IV push would qualify as "quickly."