by Alyssa Sperrazza
Latest in the bills passed by the House of Representatives in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (OIL): House Bill No. OSU-516.
A bill calling for better relations between the Department of Corrections (ODOC) and the pharmacies, primarily focusing on lethal injection protocol, passed the House and is now on its way to the Senate. With a majority win, it passed with ease after the debate time was called.
The author, Assistant Parliamentarian and Assistant Press Secretary Courtney Daniel, has heard the discussion over the past years about the issue and decided to act.
“I worked in a pharmacy for three years and I’ve heard of it happening where pharmacies would be approached for this,” Daniel said. “But they don’t sell it because either they’re against it or because they’re concerned it will reflect negatively on their business.”
There has been considerable tension about the death penalty in Oklahoma after a negative spotlight hit the state concerning lethal injections. Governor Fallon stayed a death row inmate’s execution even after the State Department received a lethal injection that wasn’t official. This caused uproar with many, bringing into question the humaneness of the act and the validity of lethal injections. This is where the pharmacies come in.
“We can get the right drugs, not just some drugs that might have not been tested and that might not be strong enough to do more than cause agonizing pain, a seizure and then a heart attack four hours later,” Daniels explained.
Oklahoma is one of the only states that actually let the ODOC buy the drugs from pharmacies. Daniels, who recognizes problems with the current system, is looking for ways to make it [the lethal injection] more humane. Injecting the wrong drug has plenty of consequences that could severely hurt the inmate. Daniel is calling for confidentiality. By keeping the name of the pharmacy private, it will make it more appealing to the pharmacies to work with the ODOC on the proper drugs needed for the injections. Yet, despite her advocating for this more compatible union, she still is strongly in opposition of the death penalty.
“I just sort of have a problem with the state, which I pay taxes to, killing people in my name,” Daniel said. “Especially when we’re concerned with whether or not they’re actually guilty.”
The state does have issues concerning the death penalty and Daniel’s bill has the potential to make some improvements that are much needed. It will make for a more consistent and reliable system if the ODOC and the pharmacies work better together. The state can’t afford another mess up like the one from last fall.