A divine intervention?

Death row inmate Peter Farmington has been released from prison following two failed executions. 

In March 2006, Farmington pled guilty to three counts of first degree murder; of his wife and two children. 

He was sentenced to death in late 2013. Tennessee has two methods of execution and allow the prisoner to choose between lethal injection and the electric chair. 

Farmington chose death by lethal injection. There are three drugs given to someone being executed. Sodium thiopental is the first of these drugs. It is designed to render the prisoner unconscious. They will then be given bromide which causes paralysis and finally potassium chloride which induces cardiac arrest. 

Astonishingly, Farmington resisted thiopental. Generally it takes about 30 seconds to take effect. They waited ten minutes before re-dosing and when nothing happened after that the execution was postponed. 

Dr Robert Liston was the medical examiner on staff; 

“I have never seen anything like it in all my years as a medical doctor.” Said Liston. “Sodium thiopental is not something someone can generally be ‘immune’ to, but Farmington’s body did not react. The drug should have hit him within 30 seconds. We waited over ten minutes, then dosed him again. Nothing.”

The second execution was scheduled for last week. Farmington opted for death by electrocution. Joseph Goldsmith, the prison warden, said; 

“Farmington chose to not go through lethal injection a second time, and opted for electrocution.” Said Goldsmith. “We hadn’t fired up ol’ sparky since 2007, but it was his choice and we honored it.”

Staff were stunned when yet again, Farmington escaped death when the electric chair failed to operate. 

“We threw those switches, and on the third flip, you’re supposed to see sparks fly, but we saw nothing.” Said Goldsmith. “We got Farmington out of the chair, hooked everything back up, fired it up, and it worked like a charm. We didn’t even try putting him back in again.”

Federal law states that any inmate who survived his execution twice is immediately granted a full pardon. 

“We wish Farmington all the best in his new life outside prison walls.” Said Governor Bill Haslam as he signed Farmington’s release forms. “This man may be a bloodthirsty, violent individual, but some higher power has given him a second chance at life. We certainly hope he uses it for something better this time around.”

Goldsmith says Farmington's survival was 'divine intervention'. “We have two methods of execution in the state of Tennessee.” said Goldsmith. “It is has always been our tradition to let the inmate choose how they want to go. Mr. Farmington is the first person to try their hand at both options. We are taking it as a sign from God that this man is just not meant to die.” 

Should a Rapist be a Role Model?

Chedwyn 'Ched' Evans was born on December 28th 1988 in St Asaph, Denbighshire. He was signed by Manchester City from Chester City's youth in 2002 and subsequently progressed. He was loaned to Norwich City in 2007 where he scored ten goals in 28 league appearances. In 2009, he was sold for £3 million to Sheffield United. His first two seasons were nothing special but during the 2011-12 season he scored 35 goals. He has also represented Wales at under-21 and senior level, making a total of 13 appearances.

In April 2012, Evans was convicted of rape and sentenced to five years in prison. This conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal in November 2012. He was released from prison on October 17th 2014 and on November 11th 2014 Sheffield United announced that Evans would resume training with the club.

Evans admitted having sex with the victim but claimed it was consensual. He pled innocent but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court. The prosecution said that the victim was too drunk to consent.

There was an appeal against Evans' conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012. Since his release, over 150, 000 people have signed a petition against Evans returning to the Club.

Sheffield United said in a statement that it condemned rape and violence against women in the 'strongest possible terms' but felt that Evans has acknowledged 'the destructive nature of the acts which led to his conviction'.

They have not yet decided whether to re-hire Evans but have accepted a request from the Professional Footballers' Association to allow him to resume his training. The club added that views of the staff, the Football League and the general public had been considered in this decision as well as the PFA view that footballers should be considered 'rehabilitated' once serving their sentence.

Sheffield United's manager Nigel Clough said that;

Evans is "entitled to an opportunity to resume his career" and when asked if this was the first step towards Evans being signed again;

"That's a long way from being true... Everyone recognises the gravity of the situation and the seriousness of everything."

There is a lot of controversy surrounding this issue. Sky Sports and Channel 4 presenter Charlie Webster has resigned as a Sheffield United patron over Evans being allowed back to train. Ms Webster revealed in an interview earlier this year that she was sexually assaulted as teenager.

She said: 

"At no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime. I think it's over 155,000 people now that have signed a petition against Ched Evans going back to the club...My decision is made on the fact that I don't believe a convicted rapist, as in Ched Evans, should go back to a club that I am patron of and should go back into the community to represent the community."

She added:

"He's not just going into a job, he's bandied as a role model."

"We cheer him on as a role model and he's influencing the next generation of young men who are currently still making their decisions on how to treat women and what sexual mutual consent is."

Whether or not Evans will be allowed back to Sheffield United full time is a decision not only to be made by the Club. The general public are voices that should be taken into consideration in this time. The real question is whether a convicted rapist should be allowed to resume a normal life especially in the public eye. Evans would not be the first footballer to do this.

In 2007, when playing for Newcastle, Joey Barton was caught on CCTV punching a man. He served two months of a six month sentence before returning to Newcastle. His boss at the time, Kevin Keegan publicly backed him. Marlon King, The former Barnet, Gillingham, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Watford, Wigan Athletic, Hull City, Middlesbrough, Coventry City, Sheffield United and Birmingham City striker is currently serving an 18-month jail term for dangerous driving. In 2009 he was also sentenced to 18 months for groping a woman and breaking her nose. Although he was sacked by Wigan upon his release from prison he was signed by Coventry City and went on to win Player of the Year.

Like Charlie Webster said, a footballer is not just a footballer he is a role model and an inspiration. Should Evans' behaviour be condoned? Will people lead by his example and feel that it's okay because he managed to get his life and fame back? Sheffield United have a huge decision to make here and consequences to consider. 

Death with Dignity

The right to die has long been a controversial issue. Oregon is one of five states in America that have a Death with Dignity Act. Oregon was the first of these states to pass this Act, seventeen years ago. It's history shows that these laws are safe and work as designed. There has never been any concerns raised by Death with Dignity opponents about coercion or abuse. The Death with Dignity Act has been documented by the state health department, investigated by medical researchers and scrutinised by news media.

Death with Dignity laws are voluntary. Any eligible person can request the life-ending medication from a doctor but no doctor is obligated to provide it. Death with Dignity is an option that reduces suffering at the end of life and the ability to die in comfort and control, with dignity. It is a constitutionally protected right in state and federal courts and recent national polling puts public support for aid in dying at 70%.

Compassion and Choices are the oldest and largest organization working to improve care and choice at the end of life. They advocate for Death with Dignity laws in states across the country so that every American has the choice to die in peace and end their suffering on their own terms. They want Death with Dignity to be an open, accessible medical practice across the country.

Brittany Lauren Maynard was born in 1984 and lived 29 years of generosity, compassion, education, travel and humour. She met her husband Daniel Diaz in April 2007 and the two wed in September 2012. On New Year's Day, this past year, Brittany was diagnosed with brain cancer. It was a terminal diagnosis for which there were no save-able measures. She was given six months to live.

In the face of terminal illness, Brittany decided to live each day to the fullest. She travelled, and kept as physically busy as possible.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt.

Brittany graduated from UC Berkeley as an undergrad and received her Masters in Education from UC Irvine. She was an accomplished traveller who spent many months alone teaching in orphanages in Kathmandu, Nepal. That experience changed her life and perspective. She fell in love with her time in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Thailand. She spent a summer working in Costa Rica and Tanzania. A month before her wedding she and a friend climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. She took ice climbing courses on Cayambe and Cotopaxi in Ecuador. She loved scuba diving and relished her time in the Galapagos, Zanzibar and Caymans.

Brittany chose to Die with Dignity in the face of her illness. She moved from her home state of California to Oregon where she passed away in a little yellow house in Portland. Brittany chose to speak out and advocate for the right to die.

"The freedom is in the choice...If the option of Death with Dignity is unappealing to anyone for any reason, they can simply choose not to avail themselves of it. Those very real protections are already in place."

She is survived by her husband Daniel Diaz, her mother Deborah Ziegler, step-father Gary Holmes and by Daniel's family. She loved deeply and left the world with zero regrets on how she spent her 29 years.

"It is people who pause to appreciate life and give thanks who are happiest. If we change our thoughts, we change our world! Love and peace to you all."

http://www.thebrittanyfund.org/