She bore the sad title of “first woman executed in 200 years in Tennessee”, but fate decided otherwise. Christa Pike, 50, sentenced to death in 1996 for the extremely violent crime of a rival when she was 19, was to receive a lethal injection this Wednesday, September 30. But nothing went as planned.
After 2 injections, the condemned person snores
As American justice requires, the execution is ritualized, in the presence of journalists.
This begins at 7:46 p.m., in Nashville. The curtains of the press area are then closed for the duration of the phenobarbital injection… but are reopened three minutes later. NBC News reports that Ms. Pike, well conscious, complains of pain. At 8:06 p.m., the curtains are closed again for what appears to be a second injection. The journalists were then surprised to hear noises, including snoring, until at least 8:53 p.m., when they were evacuated from the room.
The prison administration was not immediately able to explain this malfunction. The protocol in force in Tennessee provides for the administration of a second dose when the first has not produced the expected effect, but does not specify the action to be taken in the event of further failure.
Since then, the fifty-year-old has been hospitalized, according to her defense, who however did not provide information on her state of health.
Phenobarbital: a drug that significantly slows down the brain
The product used during this execution is phenobarbital, a drug from the barbiturate family. Historically used as a sedative and anticonvulsant, it works by slowing the activity of the central nervous system.
“Phenobarbital is a non-selective central nervous system depressant”, explains Dr. Gérald Kierzek. Concretely, it strengthens the action of GABA, a neurotransmitter which plays a “brake” role in the brain. “At high doses, this action can cause a profound loss of consciousness, followed by depression of breathing and cardiovascular functioning.“.
It is precisely this action that explains why barbiturates can be used in lethal injection protocols: at a large enough dose, they can cause the cessation of vital functions.
But why can an injection fail?
Twenty-four hours later, it is impossible to publicly determine what happened. Several medical or technical hypotheses can, however, explain why an intravenous injection does not produce the expected effect.
The first simply concerns access to blood circulation. If the product is not properly administered into a vein, or if there is a problem with the infusion, the amount of medicine that actually reaches the bloodstream may be insufficient or its action delayed. “A blood concentration insufficient to cause cardio-respiratory arrest can leave the condemned person alive.says Dr. Kierzek.
The pharmacology of phenobarbital is also an important element. It is a long-acting barbiturate, the intravenous effect of which is not instantaneous. At very high doses, it can certainly cause a deep coma and respiratory depression, but its functioning differs from that of much faster-acting barbiturates. “The time of action is approximately five minutes intravenously”specifies Dr. Kierzek. Lawyers and experts have already warned that this creates a “substantial risk of slow and inhumane death.”
The toxic dose of barbiturates also varies considerably from one individual to another.. “There is a risk that a massive dose may not produce the expected lethal effect, particularly due to possible acute tolerance, which could prevent or significantly delay death.”
Finally, logistical and protocol problems may be involved:“Arkansas, which had planned to use phenobarbital, was criticized for choosing a drug never tested in this context, effectively transforming the convicts into “guinea pigs”” reminds our expert.
Additionally, product stability and preparation can be problematic: poor mixing or degradation can make it volatile and cause excessive suffering.
An ending in several episodes?
One thing is certain: phenobarbital does not act as a simple “switch” capable of instantly causing death. Its action on the brain and vital functions depends on the dose actually received and the way in which the drug reaches the body. In the case of Christa Pike, it is precisely this chain which seems to have failed, without its cause yet being established.
The failure in any case will be a landmark. “Of all the botched executions we have witnessed in modern times, this is the worst”commented Robin Maher, director of the Capital Punishment Information Center (DPIC) in the United States.