Corizon Correctional Healthcare says it does not own an Oklahoma pharmacy that reportedly compounds the drug used to execute Missouri prison inmates.
Sen. Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph was unable to get an answer from a Department of Corrections official during an appropriations committee hearing about whether the pharmacy is a “wholly-owned subsidiary” of Corizon. He renewed his suspicions during a discussion on the Senate floor this morning. Corizon says its subsidiary, PharmaCorr—which Schaaf had specifically named in the committee meeting and in the Senate today–is not involved in any executions anywhere.
Corizon e-mailed a statement to the Missourinet this afternoon saying:
Corizon, the leading provider of correctional healthcare, is contracted by the State of Missouri to provide healthcare for all Department of Correction inmates. Corizon’s fully-owned subsidiary, PharmaCorr, is the pharmacy that provides all medications needed for inmate patients. PharmaCorr, which is not a compounding pharmacy, cannot obtain, manufacture or distribute any end of life medications.
“Corizon and PharmaCorr do not participate in executions in any way,” said Chuck Jones, D.Ph. Senior Vice President, Corizon /President, PharmaCorr. “We do not obtain, manufacture or distribute any end of life medications.”
Corizon healthcare staff cannot participate in executions. All Missouri correctional facilities are accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC), and Corizon and PharmaCorr abide by their national standards. NCCHC standards prohibit any Corizon health service staff from assisting, supervising or contributing in any way to executions.
“Corizon is dedicated to providing quality healthcare. Our staff is focused on treating and caring for our patients,” said Ralf Salke, Missouri Vice President of Operations, Corizon. “Corizon and PharmaCorr do not participate in executions in Missouri or any other state.
