In 2011 Hospira, the sole US manufacturer of sodium thiopental (a barbiturate anaesthetic used almost universally by states for lethal injections) ceased production to prevent its use in executions. So began a series of efforts on the part of state governments to find alternative sources or new drugs before their supplies became exhausted. Several states have attempted to obtain drugs from abroad; in 2015, shipments to Nebraska, Arizona, and Texas were intercepted by the FDA, which maintains the imports are illegal. Other states have turned to compounding pharmacies: chemists who tailor-make drugs to fit individual patient's needs, but whose concoctions are not as consistent as manufactured drugs. Sixteen states have made it illegal to reveal the source of their drugs (to protect suppliers, among other reasons). The shortages are even encouraging some states to consider older, largely obsolete execution methods such as electrocution, the gas chamber, and firing squad as a backup. Utah passed the use of the latter back into law in 2015, having abolished it in 2004.
Virginia is the latest state to wrestle with the issue. It was due to execute Ivan Teleguz on April 13th, but its drug supply ran low in the preceding months (Mr Teleguz has since been granted a stay of execution following an appeal). On March 28th its legislature passed a law allowing executions to proceed using the electric chair in the event of a drug shortage. Its governor, Terry McAuliffe, has since countered with a proposal to use compounding pharmacies whilst keeping their identity secret. For those enforcing capital punishment, the search for a practical killing method continues.
