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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Manufacturer Asks Oklahoma to Return Execution Drug

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One of the pharmaceutical manufacturers that produces a drug used in Oklahoma’s botched execution last year has asked the state to return all of the doses of the drug.

Illinois-based Akorn is one of several manufacturers that makes the sedative midazolam, which is part of a three-drug cocktail used in lethal injections in Oklahoma and other states.

The company sent a letter to state Attorney General Scott Pruitt on March 4 demanding that any of the company’s midazolam be returned for a full refund. The company said its drugs are not approved for executions.

“Additionally, such use is contrary to Akorn’s commitment to promote health and wellness of human patients,” the letter said. “Akorn strongly objects to the use of its products in capital punishment.”

The letter from Akorn's general counsel, Joseph Bonaccorsi, was also sent to other states using midazolam or drug for executions.

"We at Akorn are aware that two prescription drug products -- midazolam injection, USP CIV and hydromorphone hydrochloride injection ... may have been used by correctional facilities in the United States to administer lethal injections in capital punishment cases," the letter states. It adds that Akorn and several other companies manufacture the two drugs.

"The use of midazolam and/or hydromorphone for lethal injection is clearly comtradictory to the FDA-approved indications for both products," the letter says.

The letter states the company will no longer accept orders from departments of corrections.

Oklahoma Solicitor General Patrick Wyrick faced intense questioning from U.S. Supreme Court justices for use of midazolam in Oklahoma’s death chamber. Controversy over use of the drug arose after the state’s botched execution of convicted murderer Clayton Lockett a year ago.

Although the letter from Akorn to Pruitt was written March 4, news of the company's demand to Oklahoma surfaced Wednesday. Pruitt was in Washington, D.C., that day to attend the oral arguments before the Supreme Court.

It is unclear what the impact would be of Akorn's decision not to sell the drug for use in executions. Oklahoma and other states have turned to midazolam and other drugs for executions as other, more reliable drugs became unavailable.


Source: Oklahoma Watch, Nate Robson, Ziva Branstetter, April 29, 2015

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Location: Oklahoma, USA
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