Doctor: Lethal Injection Drug May Cause Pain

Use Of New Execution Drug Declared Risky By Doctor

POSTED: 1:58 pm EDT August 2, 2011
UPDATED: 2:24 pm EDT August 2, 2011

MIAMI, Fla. -- A doctor testifying for a death row inmate said Florida's planned use of a new lethal injection drug could cause extreme pain in executions.Dr. David Waisel testified Tuesday that pentobarbital hasn't been sufficiently tested to ensure an inmate is unconscious before deadly drugs are administered. States are using the new drug because the previous well-tested drug is unavailable.

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Florida Supreme Court ordered Tuesday's hearing in the case of Manuel Valle, 61. He was convicted in the 1978 shooting death of Coral Gables Police Officer Louis Pena.Valle's scheduled execution was stayed for a month to allow arguments over Florida's plan to use pentobarbital. The drug has been used in other states but never in Florida.Circuit Judge Jacqueline Hogan Scola must rule on Valle's execution challenge by Friday.

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