Day 2 of lethal injection case focuses on compounded drugs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Testimony on the second day of a trial over Tennessee’s lethal injection protocols has centered on the role of compounding pharmacists and whether a person is legally dead if he or she can still be revived.
Tennessee’s protocol calls for the use of compounded pentobarbital. Dr. James Ruble, a pharmacy expert, testified Wednesday the protocol lacks the safeguards to prevent problems that could cause extreme pain.
Resuscitation expert Dr. Lance Becker testified that some inmates could be revived a half hour or more after execution.
Attorneys for 33 Tennessee death row inmates suing over lethal injection say those inmates are not legally dead under Tennessee law. The attorneys argued that means the inmates are subjected to a lingering death, which amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
