Death Row Inmate in U.S. Survives Execution After Vein Access Fails... Execution Delayed by One Year

CBS Reports on Execution Process by Tennessee Department of Correction

A death row inmate in Tennessee, United States, survived just before execution after authorities failed to secure a vein during the lethal injection process.

According to CBS News in the U.S. on the 21st (local time), the Tennessee Department of Correction recently attempted for more than an hour to administer a lethal injection to death row inmate Tony Carruthers, 57, but ultimately failed. The department reportedly tried multiple times to secure a vein in his arms and legs but was unsuccessful each time.

In a statement, the Tennessee Department of Correction said, "We succeeded in securing the primary vein, but failed to secure the additional vein required by execution procedures." An additional vein must be secured separately during the lethal injection process to prepare for unexpected situations. The department explained, "The execution team continued their attempts according to procedure but could not find an appropriate vein," adding, "They also attempted to insert a central venous catheter as per protocol, but failed, so the execution was ultimately halted."

Carruthers’ legal counsel claimed that the repeated attempts by the department to secure a vein caused the inmate to suffer severe pain and bleeding, arguing that the department essentially tried to carry out the execution in a manner akin to torture. They also requested an emergency stay of execution from the court, claiming that the method of lethal injection constituted "cruel and unusual punishment" and violated his constitutional rights.

However, the Tennessee court rejected the request, stating there was insufficient evidence that the department's actions were cruel or abnormal. Subsequently, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted Carruthers a temporary one-year reprieve from execution. In a separate statement, he said, "After a thorough review of the incident, I am upholding Tennessee's decision to proceed with executions."

Previously, Carruthers was sentenced to death for kidnapping and murdering three people in 1994, but he has consistently maintained his innocence. Human rights organizations and his legal team have also long called for a halt to the execution, citing the need for additional DNA testing. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) asserted, "There is no physical evidence tying him to the crime."

Carruthers was scheduled to be the first person executed in Tennessee this year. Tennessee had suspended executions for about three years amid controversy over lethal injection and criticism of execution procedures, but resumed executions last year.

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