Alabama executed 59-year-old Alan Eugene Miller on Thursday via nitrogen hypoxia, a method used in the United States only twice. Miller, convicted of a workplace shooting spree in 2000, was put to death in what has been a controversial procedure, with human rights groups criticizing the method. The execution occurred at 6:38 p.m. after Miller underwent a process where he pulled against his restraints, shook, trembled, and gasped for about two to six minutes before his death was declared.
The execution of Miller comes amidst a busy period of executions nationwide, with five taking place over seven days in different states. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey commented that “justice was finally served” through the execution of Miller, who chose nitrogen hypoxia after a failed attempt at lethal injection two years prior. Miller initially contested the use of nitrogen, citing concerns about potential pain and delayed death. However, after a legal battle and settlement agreement, he proceeded with this method.
The use of nitrogen gas in executions raises ethical and human rights concerns, as it is a gas that can cause physical side effects including vomiting and slow asphyxiation if not mixed with enough oxygen. The National Director of Reprieve, Maya Foa, has raised concerns about this method, calling it “human experimentation.” The limited use of nitrogen gas in executions highlights the ongoing debate around capital punishment in the United States and the search for alternative methods to lethal injection.
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