Florida Pushes for Execution Despite Inmate's Parkinson's Symptoms

Florida officials are advocating for the execution of Loran Cole, a 57-year-old inmate with Parkinson's symptoms, to proceed as scheduled. The state's stance comes in response to Cole's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which challenges Florida's lethal injection procedures.

Ashley Moody, Florida's Attorney General, contends that Cole's appeal is untimely. According to Moody's office, Cole was aware of his Parkinson's symptoms for at least seven years but only raised concerns about the execution method after his death warrant was signed.

Cole's execution is set for 2024-08-29 at 6 p.m. at the Florida State Prison. The death warrant was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in July 2024. Cole was convicted for crimes committed in 1994, including kidnapping, rape, and murder of siblings camping in the Ocala National Forest, which is notably the second largest national forest in Florida.

Cole's legal team argues that his Parkinson's symptoms could lead to "needless pain and suffering" during the execution. They claim that his involuntary movements may interfere with the placement of intravenous lines, potentially violating his 14th Amendment rights to due process and equal protection.

The case brings attention to the ongoing debates surrounding lethal injection and death penalty procedures in the United States. Lethal injection became the primary method of execution in the U.S. in the 1980s, with the first use occurring in Texas in 1982. However, recent years have seen increased scrutiny of these procedures, particularly in light of botched executions in various states.

Florida, which reinstated the death penalty in 1976 after a four-year hiatus, has faced challenges in its execution protocols. Many of the state's death penalty procedures are exempt from public records, raising concerns about transparency. Additionally, officials have encountered difficulties in securing the necessary drugs and personnel to carry out executions, a problem faced by many states due to supply shortages and ethical concerns from pharmaceutical companies.

It's worth noting that the use of the death penalty in the U.S. has been declining since the 1990s, with only 27 states retaining it as of 2024. International human rights organizations have consistently criticized the U.S. for continuing this practice. Despite these trends, Florida has executed over 100 inmates since 1976.

The Florida Supreme Court previously denied Cole's appeal on 2024-08-23. This earlier appeal had also argued for blocking the execution based on Cole's alleged experiences of abuse at a state-run reform school.

As the scheduled execution date approaches, the case continues to highlight the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding capital punishment in the United States.