I'm somewhat conflicted over the death penalty issue but think I might have a novel solution. Suppose that our capital punishment did not have the criminal physically killed, but rather declared legally dead. In other words, for their crimes they forfeit their rights. Then they would be used a subjects for the advancement of science.

Now before anyone starts screaming too loudly about being inhumane. The tests would not be something like tossing someone into the vacuum of space to see how long they live. Instead, they would be carefully selected experiments proposed by leading researches who apply for test subjects much they way they currently do for grants money. In this way we could ensure that the convicts aren't treated inhumanely and that they are in some way repaying their debt to society.

Also if it was later found that the convict was innocent, they would still be alive, and some reparation could be made.

What do you think? Where might it go wrong?