:17:01
to consult with them
on the construction of
a lethal injection machine.
:17:05
They realized that
lethal injection is a difficult,
if not impossible problem,
:17:11
even for trained
medical personnel.
:17:17
They determined
that there should be
some kind of a machine...
:17:21
that could repetitively deliver
the necessary chemicals...
:17:25
at the proper
time intervals...
:17:27
for all executions.
:17:30
This completely took
the human factor
out of it.
:17:34
I studied
for several months,
:17:36
and I put together a proposal
on how this machine should work.
:17:41
The syringe is driven
by a weighted piston...
:17:43
that floats
on a column of air.
:17:46
This causes
a push-pull relationship...
:17:48
between the machine
and the individual's
vascular system,
:17:52
and it allows the executee
to take the chemical...
:17:57
at a rate that his body
and vein will accept.
:18:02
The doctors were satisfied.
:18:04
Now they had
to make the presentation
to the prison officials.
:18:08
The deputy commissioner
was sittin' there through
most of the meeting very bored,
:18:13
probably because
he didn't understand
what I was talking about...
:18:16
most of the time.
:18:19
But then he finally heard
something he understood.
:18:22
One of the doctors said,
"Fred designed the helmet that's
used on the electric chair...
:18:27
in the state
of North Carolina."
:18:29
At that point
the deputy commissioner said,
"Wait. Stop the meeting."
:18:34
He looked at me and says,
"You designed the helmet,
the one that they just used?"
:18:38
I says, "Yes."
He said, "Okay, that does it."
:18:41
He turned around
to the doctors and he says,
"Do the necessary paperwork...
:18:44
and see that Mr. Leuchter
gets the contract. "
:18:47
Now, what lethal injection
has to do with electrocution
is beyond me.
:18:53
Simply because I'm capable
of building an electric chair...
:18:56
doesn't mean
I'm capable of building
a lethal injection machine.
:18:59
They're two totally
different concepts.