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US company, pressured by Italy, suspends production of lethal injection drug

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this new AP story, which is headlined "US drug maker discontinues key death penalty drug," a notable new corporate decision could have a great impact on future plans for lethal injection executions.  Here are the basics: The only U.S. manufacturer of a key lethal injection drug is discontinuing the drug's production because Italian authorities wanted a guarantee that it wouldn't be used to put inmates to death ? a decision that could disrupt executions in states already struggling with a shortage of the drug. Hospira Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill., said Friday that it had decided to switch manufacture of the anesthetic from its North Carolina plant to a Hospira plant in Liscate, outside of Milan, in Italy. But Italian authorities insisted the company control the product's distribution all the way to the end user to guarantee it wouldn't be used in executions...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 21, 2011 (boomark / email).