Tennessee Pauses Executions After Pike's IV Team Fails
Experts call the hour-long struggle to administer a fatal dose medical malpractice, citing small needles and a lack of clear command.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Tennessee has suspended all death penalty operations following a failed lethal injection on Christa Pike, an inmate who survived a standard dose of pentobarbital after medical staff struggled for nearly an hour to establish an intravenous line. Legal filings released on Thursday detail the chaotic procedure, which experts now describe as a case of malpractice that would not be tolerated in a hospital setting.
Attorney Randy Spivey submitted a timeline of the event that took place on September 30. According to his account, four members of the IV team used approximately 10 needles while attempting to access Pike's veins. Spivey noted that the team expressed concern that her veins had "blown" at several points. Jonathan Groner, an emeritus professor of clinical surgery at Ohio State University, reviewed the chronology and stated that the lack of a clear leader and plan was "difficult to comprehend."
The protocol required the administration of 50cc of pentobarbital to each arm, totaling 5 grams. Zivot, an anesthesiology professor who provided expert testimony before the execution, pointed out that the team used a 24-gauge catheter at 7:05 p.m. He described this size as appropriate for infants, noting there was "no way" to push a 50cc syringe through such a small tube without damaging the vessel. A team member confirmed at 7:07 p.m. that they believed the vein had blown.
Groner highlighted that the team used ultrasound to locate veins, a technique he said requires extensive training. He observed that the saline flush at 7:23 p.m. was difficult, a warning sign that a clinician would typically interpret as a reason to stop. Despite this, the team declared the IV ready at 7:24 p.m. Groner noted that Pike grimaced and reported a "really burning" sensation in her arm, which aligns with the vial instructions to stop the infusion if pain is reported.
Pike's legal team had warned state officials multiple times before the attempt that she had small, compromised veins. Zivot cited several failures, including a poorly written protocol and the use of technology the team may not have been authorized to operate. Pike, who was sentenced to death in 1995 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer, spent 10 days in a hospital following the procedure.
She returned to her prison cell after spending several days on a ventilator, during which her lawyers believed she was brain-dead. Pike can now talk and walk, though her long-term health remains uncertain. The state has paused executions to review the process, a move that has intensified national debate over the use of lethal injection.
Groner and Zivot both argued that the incident reveals systemic issues with the execution method. Groner described the practice as a "medical charade," emphasizing that the goal is death, not torture followed by death. Zivot stated that the team continued when safety protocols suggested they should have stopped, noting an absence of the accountability and training typically associated with medical practice.
