Tennessee pauses executions after expert review finds malpractice in failed injection

Tennessee has suspended all scheduled executions following a detailed review of the failed lethal injection of inmate Christa Pike. The state paused its operations after medical experts concluded that the procedure, which left Pike alive, displayed a level of error typically classified as malpractice in standard healthcare settings.

New details emerged in court filings on Thursday, outlining the specific failures during the attempt on September 30. Pike’s attorney, Randy Spivey, described a chaotic scene where four unidentified members of the intravenous team struggled for nearly an hour to secure a line in Pike’s arms. The team used approximately ten needles, repeatedly puncturing Pike’s veins without establishing a stable connection. At several points, the team expressed concern that her veins had blown.

Jonathan Groner, an emeritus professor of clinical surgery at Ohio State University, called the lack of coordination astounding. He noted that the pentobarbital vials mandate an immediate stop to infusion if a patient reports pain, yet Pike grimaced and stated her arm was burning multiple times. The account records that at 7:05 p.m., a team member requested a 24-gauge needle, a catheter size typically used for infants or small children, and manipulated it extensively within Pike’s arm.

Joel Zivot, a professor of anesthesiology and surgery who provided expert testimony before the execution, stated there was no way to push the required 50cc of pentobarbital through such a small catheter without damaging the vein. At 7:07 p.m., a team member confirmed a vein had likely blown. Although the team used ultrasound to locate veins, Groner observed that the technique requires extensive specialist training and the team clearly lacked proficiency. Saline was pushed through the line with difficulty at 7:23 p.m., a sign Groner described as a flashing red light, before the team began the injection at 7:24 p.m.

Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of her classmate Colleen Slemmer. Her legal team had previously warned the state that Pike possessed exceptionally small and compromised veins. After the failed execution, Pike spent several days on a ventilator. Her lawyers initially believed she was brain-dead, but she returned to her prison cell after ten days in hospital. She can now talk and walk, though her long-term medical prospects remain unclear.

The case has prompted a nationwide reckoning over the use of lethal injection. Groner described the method as a medical charade, arguing that the ultimate penalty is death, not torture followed by death. Zivot noted that the team pressed forward when they should have stopped, citing a lack of safety, accountability, and training in the chamber.