May 2016: “Pfizer makes its products to enhance and save the lives of the patients we serve. Consistent with these values, Pfizer strongly objects to the use of its products as lethal injections for capital punishment.
“Pfizer’s obligation is to ensure the availability of our products to patients who rely on them for medically necessary purposes. At the same time, we are enforcing a distribution restriction for specific products in the same class of drugs that have been part of, or could be considered by some states, for their lethal injection protocols. These products include atracurium besylate, cisatracurium besylate, diazepam, etomidate, fentanyl citrate, hydromorphone hydrochloride, ketamine hydrochloride, midazolam, pancuronium bromide, potassium acetate, potassium chloride, potassium phosphates, propofol, rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide.
“Pfizer’s distribution restriction limits the sale of these fourteen products to a select group of wholesalers, distributors, and direct purchasers under the condition that they will not resell these products to correctional institutions for use in lethal injections. Government purchasing entities must certify that products they purchase or otherwise acquire are used only for medically prescribed patient care and not for any penal purposes. Pfizer further requires that these Government purchasers certify that the product is for “own use” and will not resell or otherwise provide the restricted products to any other party.
“Pfizer will consistently monitor the distribution of these fourteen products, act upon findings that reveal noncompliance, and modify policies when necessary to remain consistent with our stated position against the use of our products in lethal injections. Importantly, this distribution system is also designed to ensure that these critical medications will remain immediately available to those patients who rely on them every day.”