25 July 2017 :

Execution policy released. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) has released their execution policy. Ohio is planning to execute Ronald Phillips, 43, who was sentenced to death for the rape and killing of his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter. Phillips is scheduled to be executed on July 26. It will be the 1st execution since the state's longest lasting execution of Dennis McGuire, which lasted 26 minutes as McGuire seized, snorted, gasped and fought for life. Execution drug, Pentobarbital was banned from use in executions by drug manufacturers just prior to McGuire's scheduled date with death. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections policy at the time stated that in the event that Pentobarbital, 1 of the drugs used in the 3-drug-cocktail, is not available then midazolam and hydromorphone could be used as a replacement. The 3-drug cocktail consisted of a short-acting barbiturate to render the inmate unconscious, followed by a paralytic, and then a chemical to stop the heart. Midazolam is a benzodiazepine that is used as a sedative. Hydromorphone is an opioid analgesic pain medication. Basically, the midazolam was used to sedate McGuire before he was overdosed on the pain medication. Ohio plans to once again try the 3-drug method. According to Ohio's execution policy, "the terms 'Execution Drugs' means any of the following three options, under whatever names those drugs may be available to DRC from a pharmacy, manufacturer, supplier, wholesaler, distributor, pharmacist, or compounding pharmacy: 1) Pentobarbital; or 2) Thiopental sodium; or 3) A 3-drug combination of: a. Midazolam Hydrochloride; and b. One of the following 3 drugs: i. Vecuronium bromide; or ii. Pancuronium bromide; or iii. Rocuronium bromide; and c. Potassium Chloride." The policy further states that the execution drugs used are at the discretion of the warden.