Tennessee Execution Team Wasn’t Required to Practice IV Insertions Before Christa Pike’s Botched Execution

In a recent court filing, attorneys representing Christa Pike disclosed alarming details about Tennessee’s execution protocols, particularly concerning the training of execution teams. According to the deposition obtained from Kenneth Nelsen, the Warden of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, the current operational procedures no longer mandate that personnel practice the insertion of intravenous (IV) lines during their execution drills.

These revelations have surfaced following a distressing incident on September 30, when an attempt to execute Pike was characterised by significant flaws. While the execution team rehearsed various aspects of the process multiple times prior to the event, the training explicitly excluded the critical task of inserting IV lines, raising safety and ethical concerns about the execution protocols in place.

Under the latest execution guidelines, which came into effect in January 2025, execution teams are not required to perform hands-on practice with IV lines. This marks a significant departure from previous requirements that insisted on such training being integral to the preparation sessions. It was common practice in earlier years for execution teams to rehearse this essential task, ensuring they were competent and efficient in administering the lethal injection process.

According to the current protocol, only specific members of the execution team—the warden, special operations team, restraint team, and escort team—are mandated to participate in training sessions. Critics have pointed out that the absence of the medical personnel from these practice drills could have dire consequences, especially given the complexities involved in executing lethal injections.

The protocol explicitly states that non-department personnel, including the two members of the IV team, are not required to attend the sessions. Instead, their participation is limited to reviewing protocols. This is concerning given that the IV team, which should consist of qualified medical professionals like physicians and emergency medical technicians, plays a pivotal role in determining and establishing IV access during executions.

During the ill-fated execution attempt on Pike, significant difficulties arose as the IV team struggled to locate suitable veins to administer the lethal substances. Reports indicate that the team resorted to using approximately ten needles in their efforts, raising questions about both the training and the protocols in place at the time.

Pike subsequently survived the botched execution, but she has since spoken out about the physical and emotional trauma she has suffered as a result. Her statements reveal ongoing, intense pain that continues to affect her daily life. “There hasn’t been a moment since that night when I haven’t been in pain,” she shared, expressing that her suffering extends beyond the physical and into psychological distress.

Pike’s case has drawn public scrutiny due to the grisly nature of the crime for which she was sentenced to death. In 1995, at the age of 18, she and her boyfriend were convicted of the murder of Colleen Slemmer, a case marked by extreme brutality. Pike’s execution and the tumultuous events surrounding it have revived debates on the ethics and effectiveness of capital punishment practices in the state of Tennessee.

These revelations have prompted calls for a reevaluation of the execution protocols and the training that personnel receive. With growing concerns about the potential for further botched executions and the ethical implications of current practices, advocacy groups express the urgent need for reforms that ensure both humane treatment of inmates and accountability within the justice system.

The implications of the 2025 protocol, combined with the troubling details from Pike’s recent execution attempt, highlight critical areas for improvement within Tennessee’s execution framework. As legal experts and human rights advocates press for changes, the dialogue surrounding capital punishment and its methodologies faces intense scrutiny, underscoring the need for justice systems to uphold the highest standards of care and ethics.