Oklahoma's Bothced Execution

I have to say-- this is probably something your state doesn't want to be known for. Last post, I discussed how EU pharmaceutical companies are refusing to allow their drugs to be used in executions.

More recently, was the botched execution of Oklahoma prisoner, Clayton Lockett.

What's interesting is that in Oklahoma, the drug cocktail was kept "secret" by law and therefore was prohibitive in allowing the prisoner's lawyer to file a cruel and unusual claim because they didn't actually know what they were using. Even though the law was deemed unconstitutional, Clayton only had one month left to live and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals refused to stay the execution.

For the first time, the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued a stay but got so much political pressure that it reversed itself two days later.

It's hard to piece together exactly what went wrong, but in this CNN account, the IV "blew" which means the vein ruptured and the medication likely went into the tissue versus staying in the venous system which likely delayed the onset of the medication. Reports state death ensued approx 45 minutes after the first drug was given.

They stopped the process but the prisoner succumbed to a heart attack. In my medical opinion, this was caused by the potassium injection.

What is complicating death by lethal injection is the "preferred" drugs for sedation cannot be used due to a mandate by EU pharmaceutical companies so alternatives for the sedative drug are trying to be found.

In the Oklahoma situation-- it says the drugs are administered simultaneously by three different executioners. From a medical standpoint-- this probably isn't wise. A step-fold process would be better. If given one at a time, there would be less pressure on the line and less chance the vein would blow and you could ensure the sedative worked prior to administering the subsequent drugs making for a more "humane" execution.

Because of the problems now with lethal injection, a Utah State Representative is proposing the return of the firing squad. 

What do you think of the death penalty? Which method do you think is most "humane"?

Disasters and HIPAA

HIPAA, the patient health privacy law, is not only a medical/writing hot topic-- but evidently a social media one as well.

Here at Redwood's, I've blogged A LOT about HIPAA and writers violation of the act. You can read some of those posts by following the links:

My Author Beware series: Includes HIPAA basics and examples of frequent authorly violations.

Part I: http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-beware-law-hipaa-part-13.html

Part II: http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-beware-law-hipaa-part-23.html

Part III: http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/2011/12/author-beware-law-hipaa-33.html

HIPAA and the Australian DJs

HIPAA and Law Enforcement

Let's look at a recent example that was social media focused and revolved around the Moore, OK F5 tornado that struck on May 20, 2013.

People, in general, want to be helpful. That's one reason why social media is becoming an avenue to try and locate lost people. You'll see missing children posters and even teens/adults posting pictures in hopes of finding biological parents that may have adopted them out.

During the crisis in Moore, an "ad" (poster, plea-- whatever you'd like to call it) was put up on Facebook stating that a child had been found and said child was located at a hospital and gave the hospital's number.

What surprised me, honestly, was the backlash of some against this photo decrying HIPAA violation.

Umm. . . well . . . no. Not. At. All.

In order to have a full fledged HIPAA violation, medical information has to be disclosed with a patient's name. Since the sign had absolutely no medical information-- there was no violation. Even if it had said the child was a patient (which is did not)-- there still wouldn't have been a violation because it didn't disclose treatment and/or diagnosis.

This is really no different than calling up the ER and asking-- "Hey, is John Doe a patient there?" Giving a patient location is not a HIPAA violation. Saying, "Oh, Yea-- Johnny is here and let me tell you-- he's not feelin' that broken femur after his blood alcohol came back at 0.5."

But I digress.

See the difference?

Let's cut people some slack-- particularly when disasters strike their communities. Recognize the heart of what they were trying to do-- get parent and child back together.

And let's all continue to pray for this community.