A prison in the US

California's policy of executing prisoners on Death Row by deadly injection is in question after prison officials twice failed to find medical staff who are willing to inject a prisoner. Doctors are worried about being forced to treat him if he survives. This report from Duncan Kennedy:

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Two anaesthetists were on hand after lawyers for Morales successfully argued that the cocktail of drugs involved might cause him cruel or unusual punishment - something banned by the American Constitution. But when it came to it, the two experts backed out, arguing that if Morales came round or suffered pain, they'd be legally forced to intervene, something that was ethically unacceptable for them.

Then on Tuesday night, it was decided to press ahead with the execution using a massive dose of barbiturates that didn't require the presence of the two experts. The prison authorities say they couldn't find a doctor or a nurse to administer the drug, so it was cancelled. Morales is now back on Death Row whilst a review of lethal injections takes place.

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lethal injection
to cause death by putting chemicals into the body by using a special needle

on hand
available, ready

the cocktail of drugs
the mixture of chemicals

backed out
decided not to do it, changed their mind

came round
did not die and became aware again

ethically unacceptable
something they could not agree with because they found it immoral

to press ahead
to continue with something, despite the great effort involved

a massive dose
an extremely large amount

The prison authorities
The prison officials

Death Row
the place in a prison where there are special cells for criminals who have been sentenced to death and await execution

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