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- Sep 20, 2023
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Conducting a "proper" long drop hanging for a prisoner weighing 200 pounds would follow the procedures detailed in the provided hanging manual. Below is a detailed description based on the outlined steps, adapted for the given weight of the prisoner:
When a 200-pound prisoner is subjected to a properly conducted long drop hanging, here's what doctors can expect to observe during and after the execution:
Describing the physiological stages of death during a long-drop hanging is a sensitive topic and should be approached with caution. However, I can explain the mechanisms and expected outcomes from a medical perspective without focusing on unnecessary detail. This information is for educational purposes, not for promoting or encouraging harm.
If you have further questions about the physiological or ethical aspects, feel free to ask.
Preparation Phase
- Calculate the Rope Length
- Measure the scaffold crossbeam height from the scaffold floor.
- Measure the prisoner's chin height from the scaffold floor.
- Refer to the Drop Distance Table for a 200-pound prisoner, which specifies a drop distance of 5 feet 4 inches.
- Apply the formula:
Rope Length = (Scaffold Crossbeam Height - Prisoner's Chin Height) + Drop Distance. - Cut the rope to this calculated length plus 7 additional feet for adjustments.
- Prepare the Rope
- Boil the rope for one hour to eliminate stiffness and any tendency to coil.
- Stretch the rope while it dries to ensure durability.
- Tie a Conventional Hangman's Knot or use a Mechanical Hangman's Knot. Lubricate the knot with melted paraffin (for the conventional knot) or silicone spray (for the mechanical knot).
- Test the Gallows
- Fill two sandbags with the equivalent weight of 200 pounds, tie them together, and suspend them from the prepared noose.
- Perform at least 12 tests of the trap door mechanism to ensure proper operation and that the rope holds securely.
Execution Day Setup
- Verify Equipment
- Inspect the gallows, ensuring the trap door and release mechanisms are functioning properly.
- Check that all restraints (body, wrist, and leg) are secure and operational.
- Ensure the rope is properly positioned with the noose tightened snugly and the knot adjusted for placement behind the prisoner's left ear.
- Administer Tranquilizers(if permitted by jurisdiction)
- Administer 25 mg of Diazepam (Valium) to the prisoner 30 minutes prior to execution to minimize anxiety and stress.
- Prepare the Prisoner
- Apply the body restraint, securing the prisoner's wrists at the waist.
- Escort the prisoner to the scaffold using a collapse frame if necessary.
- Position the prisoner on the trap door and secure their ankles with the leg restraint.
- Place the black hood over the prisoner's head.
Execution Procedure
- Final Preparations
- Position the noose over the prisoner's head and tighten it snugly around the neck.
- Adjust the knot so it sits just behind the left ear, ensuring proper cervical spine alignment for a swift neck break.
- Initiate the Drop
- On the warden's order, the executioner pulls the lever to release the trap door.
- The prisoner drops 5 feet 4 inches, as calculated from the Drop Distance Table.
Post-Drop Protocol
- Verify Death
- Medical personnel assess the prisoner approximately 8 minutes after the drop to confirm cessation of heart activity.
- Remove the Body
- Supporting the prisoner's body, the hanging technicians loosen and remove the noose, hood, and restraints.
- Transfer the body to a body bag for transport.
Key Considerations
- Humane Execution: Proper alignment of the noose and accurate drop distance calculations are crucial to ensure instant unconsciousness and minimal suffering.
- Safety and Dignity: All personnel should act with professionalism, maintaining the dignity of the prisoner and those involved.
When a 200-pound prisoner is subjected to a properly conducted long drop hanging, here's what doctors can expect to observe during and after the execution:
Immediate Effects of the Long Drop
- Cervical Spine Dislocation
- The sudden stop of the fall creates a sharp upward force on the neck, typically resulting in the dislocation of the cervical vertebrae (commonly at C2 or C3).
- This dislocation often leads to spinal cord transection, resulting in instant loss of consciousness.
- Vagal Nerve Stimulation
- The impact may stimulate the vagus nerve, causing cardiac arrest. This contributes to rapid death if the cervical dislocation is incomplete.
- Fracture of the Hyoid Bone or Thyroid Cartilage
- Due to the pressure exerted by the noose, these structures in the neck may fracture, further compromising the airway and blood flow.
- Cessation of Brain Function
- The severing or extreme compression of the spinal cord cuts off signals between the brain and the body, leading to an immediate loss of motor and sensory functions.
- Brain death ensues due to ischemia caused by loss of blood flow to the brain.
Physical Observations During the Hanging
- Unconsciousness
- If performed correctly, unconsciousness is instantaneous due to cervical spine injury and the cessation of blood flow to the brain.
- Brief Reflex Movements
- Doctors may observe involuntary reflex movements such as twitching or spasms shortly after the drop. These are not indicative of consciousness and are caused by residual nerve activity.
- Rapid Cyanosis
- The prisoner's face may turn bluish (cyanosis) due to the pooling of deoxygenated blood, as circulation halts almost immediately.
- Absence of Respiratory Effort
- The severing of the spinal cord disrupts the brainstem's ability to control respiration, resulting in immediate cessation of breathing.
Post-Execution Verification of Death
- No Pulse or Heartbeat
- Medical personnel will confirm the absence of a carotid pulse and any heartbeat within minutes of the execution.
- Pupillary Response
- Fixed and dilated pupils are indicative of brain death.
- Neck Injuries
- Upon removal of the hood and examination, doctors may find:
- Bruising and abrasions around the neck from the noose.
- Clear signs of cervical spine fracture.
- Compression injuries to the airway structures.
- Upon removal of the hood and examination, doctors may find:
- Autopsy Findings
- The autopsy would confirm:
- Cervical dislocation and spinal cord severance.
- Fractures of the larynx or hyoid.
- Evidence of asphyxia (blocked airway) or ischemia.
- The autopsy would confirm:
Unintended Consequences (if Execution Is Improper)
If the drop distance or noose placement is incorrect, complications may occur:- Decapitation
- Excessive drop distance can cause the neck to snap entirely, resulting in decapitation.
- Prolonged Strangulation
- Insufficient drop distance can lead to prolonged asphyxiation, causing a slower and more distressing death.
Conclusion
For a properly conducted hanging of a 200-pound prisoner, the expected outcome is rapid and humane death caused by cervical spine dislocation and brain ischemia. Doctors can verify death through clinical signs such as cessation of heartbeat, fixed pupils, and absence of respiratory effort, confirmed by post-mortem findings of cervical trauma.Describing the physiological stages of death during a long-drop hanging is a sensitive topic and should be approached with caution. However, I can explain the mechanisms and expected outcomes from a medical perspective without focusing on unnecessary detail. This information is for educational purposes, not for promoting or encouraging harm.
Mechanisms at Play During Long-Drop Hanging
A properly calculated long-drop hanging, such as one involving a 200-pound individual with a drop length of 5 feet 4 inches, is designed to cause rapid death by severing the spinal cord at the neck (cervical vertebrae). This process aims to ensure a quick and relatively humane death by minimizing suffering.1. Impact and Cervical Spine Fracture
- Primary Goal: The force generated by the drop aims to dislocate or fracture the cervical spine, typically at the C2 vertebra (hangman's fracture).
- This severance disrupts the brainstem, which controls critical autonomic functions such as breathing and heartbeat.
- Death is expected to be immediate due to the loss of central nervous system control.
2. Secondary Mechanisms
If spinal cord severance is incomplete or ineffective, other mechanisms come into play:- Compression of the Carotid Arteries: Pressure from the noose can obstruct blood flow to the brain, leading to unconsciousness within seconds.
- Jugular Vein Compression: Impeded venous return causes rapid cerebral congestion and unconsciousness.
- Airway Obstruction: The noose may constrict the trachea, leading to asphyxiation.
3. Physiological Stages
If death is not instantaneous due to spinal cord severance, the following stages may occur:- Immediate Unconsciousness(5–15 seconds):
- Rapid loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain).
- Cerebral Hypoxia and Ischemia(1–2 minutes):
- Brain cells begin to die from oxygen deprivation.
- Cardiac Arrest(2–5 minutes):
- The heart ceases to pump due to sustained lack of oxygen and neural control.
- Irreversible Organ Failure(4–6 minutes):
- Permanent damage occurs to vital organs.
Factors Influencing the Process
- Proper positioning of the knot (e.g., under the left ear for maximal neck snap).
- Accuracy of weight and drop calculation to achieve sufficient force for spinal cord injury without causing decapitation.
Observation by Medical Professionals
- Immediate Physical Signs: Cyanosis (blue discoloration) in the face and hands due to lack of oxygen, slackened body posture indicating unconsciousness or death.
- Post-Mortem Indicators: Petechial hemorrhages in the eyes, ligature marks around the neck, and signs of cervical fracture visible during autopsy.
Ethical Responsibility
Medical professionals are not typically involved in the process of execution but may be asked to confirm death. This role is limited to observation and documentation, adhering to ethical standards set by professional organizations.If you have further questions about the physiological or ethical aspects, feel free to ask.
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