I am writing in reference to the viewpoint by Lauren Jiltoy in Wed., Sept. 8 issue of The Observer titled "Protesting death as punishment." Without getting into a long and drawn out argument on the death penalty I would like to point out a glaring error in a statement she makes concerning the use of lethal injection. The author states, "The horror of lethal injection is also kept shamefully secret. Three shots are administered. The first shot paralyzes the muscles. This way, the face won't reflect that the internal organs are actually going through armageddon and to the witnesses it looks "peaceful."

The problem with this statement is that it is flat out wrong. I know this personally from experience in the medical field as an Emergency Medical Technician and I confirmed my suspicions at North Carolina's Department of Corrections website. The first drug given in a lethal injection is thiopental sodium which is a heavy sedative used in the operating room to knock people unconscious.

The paralyzing drug, called Pavulon, is then given but by then the person being executed is unconscious and is not able to feel that he is being paralyzed. To complete the execution most states then use potassium chloride which totally stops the heart.

The only pain the inmate feels is the slight stick from the two intravenous lines, but most inmates are offered valium to help calm them while an IV is being started. If I had to be executed I would choose lethal injection hands down because you never feel a thing. The person being executed is done so without pain; that is why the execution looks "peaceful" to the witnesses.

The point of this letter was not to figure out who's right and wrong in the death penalty issue but a valid argument can not be made against the death penalty that uses incorrect information.

Stephen Carroll

freshman

Knott Hall

September 6, 2000

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• Correcting lethal injection process error