Why KCL is Used as Lethal Injection?

Описание: Blood potassium concentration was determined by ion-selective electrode measurement (range 3.0-150 mM).
Blood was found positive for diazepam at a therapeutic level.
Potassium concentration was 160.0 (cardiac) and 87.3 mM (femoral blood).
results show that potassium concentration was significantly higher in heart blood

Although KCl is quite safe when administered orally, it is lethal at 75-150 mg/kg IV.
Injection of a lethal dose of KCl produces death by cardiac arrest.
KCl eliminates the potassium concentration gradient in cardiac muscle, and the depolarized muscle cannot repolarize.
Is potassium chloride given as a lethal injection?
Lethal injection of potassium chloride (KCl) can be used as a method of either suicide or homicide.
As biological tests are still inadequate to differentiate endogenous from exogenous potassium, at the scene of death the cause can only be suspected.
What happens if you inject potassium into the bloodstream?
The risks associated with intravenous potassium chloride are well known.
If it is injected too rapidly or in too high a dose, it may cause cardiac arrest within minutes.
The effect of hyperkalaemia on the heart is complex – virtually any arrhythmia may be observed.