The doctor tasked with starting IV lines for Tennessee executions had not placed a central line in 13 years and does not have hospital privileges, according to a new federal court filing.
The filing includes the deposition of the physician for the execution of Tony Carruthers. The state called off the execution Thursday morning after failing to establish IV access.
In the deposition, the doctor stated they last placed a central IV line around 2013, when they worked in an emergency room. The doctor said they have placed a dozen or more central lines in their career and had one complication in which a guide wire ended up in the carotid vein. The doctor said they do not have hospital privileges anywhere in the country. The doctor stated they prefer to establish a central IV in the subclavian vein using the manual landmark method, not with an ultrasound, which is the standard of care. The subclavian vein is the most dangerous vein in which to establish central IV access, according to the court filing.
Execution attempt details
ACLU Attorney Maria DeLiberato witnessed the execution attempt and provided a declaration included in the court filing.
DeLiberato stated she was contacted by another attorney for Carruthers at approximately 11:02 a.m. who informed her that executioners were unable to obtain bilateral venous access and were examining Carruthers’ feet with the intention of setting a peripheral IV.
At approximately 11:16 a.m., DeLiberato was informed that the doctor had attempted to set a central line. The attempt was unsuccessful.
There is lots of blood, he’s in pain,” DeLiberato stated.
At approximately 11:49 a.m., DeLiberato was told the execution was on hold and that Carruthers was being checked by medical personnel.
“If the state of Tennessee is going to execute its own, there has to be full and complete transparency. And there was no transparency here. And this botched execution showed why there must be,” DeLiberato said.
Protocol requirements
Tennessee’s 2025 Lethal Injection Protocol requires that if the IV team is unable to establish peripheral IV access, the physician contracted by the state is required to establish a central IV line.
The protocol does not provide for the state to re-attempt to establish peripheral IV access after an attempt to establish a central IV line has failed.
An improperly placed central IV line can cause a person to bleed to death, according to medical literature cited in the court filing.
A Davidson County Chancery Court judge has ordered the Department of Corrections to preserve evidence from the failed execution.
The federal lawsuit filed Thursday seeks to enjoin the state from continuing to attempt to execute Carruthers through intravenous methods unless performed by an individual established on the record to be qualified, licensed and presently authorized by a legitimate medical facility to establish a central IV line.
State records show the doctor has an active Tennessee medical license with no disciplinary action from the board.
The state Department of Corrections did not respond to requests for comment about the execution process and the qualifications for the medical staff they use.
Reported By: Action News5
#tn #justicesystemfailed #fypシ゚viral #tennesseelife #departmentstoredeals
Experiencing this case highlights the critical importance of properly trained and credentialed medical personnel when performing complex procedures like central IV line insertions, especially in high-stakes settings such as executions. From my perspective, placing a central line requires up-to-date skills and the use of best practices, including ultrasound guidance, to minimize risks like vessel injury and bleeding — something the Tennessee protocol apparently did not enforce here. The use of the subclavian vein without ultrasound is particularly concerning because it carries a higher risk of serious complications such as pneumothorax or vessel damage. In medical practice, continuous training and maintaining hospital privileges ensure that practitioners can maintain competency. It is alarming that the doctor involved had not placed a central line for over a decade and did not hold active privileges, tasks that would be unacceptable in routine hospital settings. This situation also reflects broader systemic issues when transparency and rigorous oversight are missing. The delay and failure during the execution, as well as conflicting protocol steps, underscore the potential human rights and ethical concerns in execution procedures. Transparency about the qualifications and protocols used is essential to prevent avoidable pain and complications. As someone who has observed medical protocols evolve and understands the complexities of vascular access, I advocate for strict adherence to established medical standards and clearer accountability in such sensitive cases. This ensures safety, respect for human dignity, and legal compliance, which are paramount regardless of the context. Hopefully, this incident will prompt Tennessee and other states to reassess their execution protocols and the medical qualifications required to carry them out safely.