Pfizer Restricts the Sale of Lethal Injections For Executions

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has recently imposed control on the use of seven lethal injections which are used in executions. Pfizer being the last federally approved drugmaker for lethal injections stated that products are mainly made by the company only to enhance and save the patient’s life and strongly restricts the use of these drugs for capital punishment.  Maya Foa, the director of Reprieve an International human rights organization also said that Pfizer’s decision will cement the opposition of the Pharmaceutical companies on the misuse of medicines.

According to a report by the New York Times, this move by Pfizer will shut off the last open source of drugs that are used in death penalties, further on to the similar actions taken by 20 other European and US drug makers.

The control on lethal injections by Pfizer was mainly imposed following the acquisition of the pharmaceutical company Hospira in 2015 for the drug Midazolam.

The restricted drug products for distribution are mainly lethal injections which either start with an anesthetic or a sedative. One of the powerful anesthetic drug propofol which was used by Michael Jackson is also included in the list of restricted products. Other  products which are limited for sale also include pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride, midazolam, hydromorphone, rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide.

The distribution of drugs by Pfizer will now limit the sales only to certain distributors, wholesalers and purchasers in condition that they should not resell these drugs for any correctional institute. Government organizations who purchase must also use these drugs only for personal and for medically prescribed patient care. The sale of these drugs are strictly prohibited and should not be shared with others.

Over the past five years, drug makers are continuously taking necessary measures to either cease the production of such drugs or restrict its distribution. And this restricted sale by Pfizer will help people from the unpredictable and inhumane effects caused by these lethal injections.

Source-Medindia