NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI/ WVLT) — New details are emerging after Tennessee halted an execution last week, with court filings raising concerns about the qualifications of the medical professional involved.
According to a federal court filing, the doctor tasked with establishing IV access for the execution of Tony Carruthers had not placed a central line in approximately 13 years and does not currently hold hospital privileges.
The execution was called off Thursday after the IV team was unable to establish the required access.
In a deposition included in the filing, the physician said their last central line placement was around 2013 while working in an emergency room. The doctor reported placing roughly a dozen such lines throughout their career and acknowledged one complication involving a misplaced guide wire.
The filing also states the doctor prefers using a manual landmark technique rather than ultrasound guidance, which is widely considered the current standard of care. Medical information cited in the filing indicates that central line placement, particularly in the subclavian vein, can carry significant risks if not performed correctly.
An attorney representing Carruthers described the scene during the attempted execution, stating multiple efforts were made to establish IV access, including a failed central line attempt.
At one point, the attorney reported that Carruthers was in pain and there was visible bleeding. The execution was ultimately placed on hold and then stopped.
Under Tennessee’s execution protocol, a physician is required to establish a central IV line if peripheral access fails. The protocol does not allow a return to peripheral attempts after a central line attempt is unsuccessful.
A lawsuit filed following the incident seeks to prevent further execution attempts using intravenous methods unless the procedure is carried out by a qualified and currently credentialed medical professional.
A Davidson County judge has ordered the state to preserve evidence related to the failed execution.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections has not publicly commented on the doctor’s qualifications or the events surrounding the halted procedure.
