Attorneys challenge Va.’s lethal injections

Credit: BOB BROWN/TIMES-DISPATCH

RICHMOND, Va. —

Virginia’s execution team is engaging in the unlicensed practice of medicine, pharmacy and anesthesiology, according to a challenge to lethal injection filed in Richmond Circuit Court on Tuesday.

The complaint names the director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, the unnamed execution team leader (the identities of team members are confidential) and other prison officials as defendants.

The defendants, according to the complaint, are not authorized under state law to request, dispense, distribute, give, and/or obtain or intravenously administer as a general anesthetic controlled prescription substances to condemned inmates.

Read More >>