Texas' Purchase of Lethal Injection Drugs from Rite-Away Pharmacy

SOURCE www.npr.org

Texas purchased lethal injection drugs from a compounding pharmacy with safety violations for executions; the pharmacy had a history of violations and involvement in the opioid epidemic. Concerns were raised about the carelessness in treating inmates. The pharmacy prepared injectable pentobarbital for executions using raw ingredients, with poor sterilization conditions reported. The drugs were made in a sterile room and sold to the state for less than $100,000. The pharmacist involved expressed initial guilt but justified his actions. Another branch of the pharmacy faced legal issues for dispensing opioids illegally. The use of compounded drugs for executions raised constitutional concerns. Previous lethal injections in Texas had complications. The state plans more executions using the prepared drugs.