Alabama is set to execute Alan Eugene Miller, 59, using nitrogen hypoxia, making him the second person in the U.S. to face this controversial method after the first execution in January. Miller was previously spared execution due to issues accessing his veins for lethal injection, and though he initially challenged the nitrogen method in court, he ultimately opted for it after a failed attempt at lethal injection. Critics argue that nitrogen hypoxia, which replaces breathable air with pure nitrogen, could inflict unnecessary suffering, as evidenced by Kenneth Smith's execution where witnesses reported distressing convulsions. Despite these concerns, Alabama officials, including Attorney General Steve Marshall, assert that the method is humane and reliable, even labeling Smith's execution as 'textbook.' The upcoming execution is part of a significant rise in executions across the U.S., with five planned within a week, marking a notable shift in the trend against the death penalty. Opponents of the death penalty continue to call for further evaluation of nitrogen hypoxia due to the troubling nature of its inaugural use.