To those who haven't heard through the news or online, Christa Pike had been on death row in Tennessee for a murder she committed when she was 18. She was given a "double' lethal injection and she survived it. Apparently, she was talking a few days ago and is now up moving and walking around. This is the first I've heard of anyone surviving a lethal injection or death penalty by other measures in real life. Either way, this is an interesting story. I can't imagine how her family and the victims family and others closer to her from that time feel currently.

My most obvious question is how in hell does someone survive a death penalty, regardless of the method?

The speculation I’ve seen online is that they failed to obtain adequate IV access and the pento extravasated into her subcutaneous tissue prior to receiving the lethal dose. The sublethal dose was enough to cause complications but not all cessation of respiratory function.

Personally, I think the protocol should allow for IO access if necessary. I would have done external jugular access. She has a vein in her neck that could have been used.

When I looked into it several years ago, I believe KY’s protocol called for at least two venous access sites, but I have no knowledge of TN’s protocol.