Fresenius Kabi and EU threaten US propofol supply

[norwood]

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You can read the site Fresenius Kabi put up and draw your own conclusions. In a nutshell, FK is saying that if two lethal injections in Missouri go forward, then the European Commission will say that it can only be exported by going through some labyrinthine process, and that since FK supplies 89% of the propofol used in the US, this will cause a severe shortage.

On the one hand, FK is essentially saying that this is in the hands of European Commission bureaucrats, since they're discussing the "sanctions" as something the EC would impose, as opposed to something FK would impose themselves. But on the other hand, FK talks elsewhere on the site about how they've fought against capital punishment, so they don't exactly come off as opposed to what's going on.

Anyone know more about this? What I'm mainly wondering is whether FK is caught between a US situation they can't change and EC bureaucrats set on making a fuss about it, and is just putting up the website in an attempt to say "hey, it wasn't us," or whether they have some odd notion of anesthesiologists as a mighty political power capable of reshaping vast swaths of the US political landscape.

 

[Idiopathic]

yeah i think this is greatly overestimating the importance of the anesthesiologist in the day to day workings of the american judicial/prison system

 

[IlDestriero]

We might be in for a rough patch with propofol if they do the executions.
Just shoot the bastards. It's not like the bullet manufacturers will stop supplying bullets because they're used to kill things.
But getting shot 10-12 times in the head and chest hurts, oh yeah, who cares.

 

[norwood]

yeah i think this is greatly overestimating the importance of the anesthesiologist in the day to day workings of the american judicial/prison system

You know, I think the speed limit should be higher. Let's call ASAPAC and get on that

 

[IlDestriero]

They might have better luck...

 

[Oggg]

Why don't they use morphine 10gm? Or Demerol?

 

[pgg]

Why don't we just put them in a 6' x 8' windowless concrete box 23.5 hours/day for the next 50 years? That's punishment. And cheaper than the whole capital punishment endless appeal boondoggle. And reversible, too.

 

[Per4mer8]

We have to feed em for those 50 yrs......

What's wrong with KCl?

 

[Oggg]

Kcl burns, they say. How about putting in a TLC then injecting kcl centrally? Or lidocaine 5gm IV then kcl?

 

[Per4mer8]

Ok, so how about 20 of etomidate then KCl.

Or they can order the Belgium home euthanasia kit which costs 60 euros and comes with 50mg versed, Pentothal, and vecuronium. Heck, you could get 3 for 1 with that kit. 🙂. Ok, maybe only 2 as straight paralytic would definitely be cruel and unusual.

 

[pgg]

We have to feed em for those 50 yrs......

Still cheaper than 15 years of appeals in a capital punishment case.

 

[Per4mer8]

Still cheaper than 15 years of appeals in a capital punishment case.

Agreed. It should be if there is DNA and/or video evidence go directly to the chair, do not pass go.

 

[lord_jeebus]

100000 units insulin

 

[norwood]

Had a fascinating conversation today with a German friend - he works in a technical field, but not medical (and no relation to Fresenius). Anyway, I was telling him about the scenario and asking his thoughts.

One thing I asked him is why the EU is going haywire about this, while showing no real objection to sending billions of dollars worth of arms to Middle Eastern dictators. He said it's all about protecting their bigger industries (and arms are a big industry in various EU countries), whereas we're talking about a single company here that has very limited political clout. As he sees it, Fresenius' opinion on the death penalty probably boils down to "Help, we're caught in the crossfire here."

 

[Oggg]

100000 units insulin

+1. Let's see them start an insulin shortage...

 

[Spinach Dip]

Just use Euthesol. (A mixture of pentobarbitol/phenytoin.) Available from any vet in the country.

If it's good enough for my 23-year old mare that never hurt a creature in her life, it's good enough for convicted murderers who've appealed their case a couple-hundred times and lost every one.



That, or a 50-cal to the forehead. They won't even have time to hear it.

 

[Gern Blansten]

Kcl burns, they say. How about putting in a TLC then injecting kcl centrally? Or lidocaine 5gm IV then kcl?

Don't go chasing waterfalls...

 

[ICd8U]

Kcl burns, they say. How about putting in a TLC then injecting kcl centrally? Or lidocaine 5gm IV then kcl?

There are any number of ways that a physician could terminate an inmate without causing pain/suffering. The problem is that licensed medical professionals cannot provide assistance with executions so you've gotta have a recipe a lay person can follow (and one that will be approved by the courts)

 

[jwk]

Missouri's governor issued an order today barring the use of propofol in executions in Missouri, due in large part to the threat from the EU that propofol exports to the US would become problematic if propofol was used in executions.

 

[norwood]

Missouri's governor issued an order today barring the use of propofol in executions in Missouri, due in large part to the threat from the EU that propofol exports to the US would become problematic if propofol was used in executions.

Wow. And wow again.

I had figured the only question was whether the EU would actually ban exports - they did with STP, of course, but it's different to ban exports of something that's rarely used - and had thought it was simply a given that Missouri wouldn't be moved by the EU's threats. What strange times we live in...

 

[shopsteward]

Wow. And wow again.

I had figured the only question was whether the EU would actually ban exports - they did with STP, of course, but it's different to ban exports of something that's rarely used - and had thought it was simply a given that Missouri wouldn't be moved by the EU's threats. What strange times we live in...

There's a free trade agreement between the USA and the EU on the table, negotiations now held up by the shutdown. If it comes off, it could change a lot of things.

 

[Oggg]

Neostigmine 1gm. Death by bradycardia. The GI effect might be indignified, but oh well.

 

[BLADEMDA]

Just use Euthesol. (A mixture of pentobarbitol/phenytoin.) Available from any vet in the country.

If it's good enough for my 23-year old mare that never hurt a creature in her life, it's good enough for convicted murderers who've appealed their case a couple-hundred times and lost every one.



That, or a 50-cal to the forehead. They won't even have time to hear it.

Brevital and/or Ketamine plus 100 mg of Vecuronium (yes 100 mg) or 100 mg of Pavulon.

Game over.

 

[Spinach Dip]

Brevital and/or Ketamine plus 100 mg of Vecuronium (yes 100 mg) or 100 mg of Pavulon.

Game over.

That'd work to.

I'm sure there are hundreds of drug combinations that can achieve the desired effect. I suggested Euthesol because it is widely available and rather cheap (~$50 for enough to put down a 1000-lb horse).



Or, we could go the nicest possible way: let people on death row choose their own way to enter the next world. I'd bet $5 that opiate overdose would be the preferred method.