What This Story Is About
- Tony Carruthers sister has filed a complaint with the Tennessee Department of Health alleging that “malpractice” and “torture” during her brother’s failed execution in May.
Why It Matters
- His sister, Dr. Tonya Hervey, said her brother’s entire right side of his body is paralyzed after suffering “excruciating pain” during the failed execution.
- The TDOH Health Facilities Commission Complaint Intake Unit will review the complaint, assign it a priority code and then pass it off to a regional office for investigation.
For Context
- Gov. Bill Lee decided not to change any of the state’s execution protocols after the failed lethal injection, prompting criticism from some activists.
- Various legal teams and anti-death penalty groups are continuing to call for the state to pause its scheduled executions.
Catch Up
- Tony Carruthers’ attorneys responded last week to Gov. Lee saying execution protocols will stand after the botched attempt.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Two months after the state botched an attempt to execute Tony Carruthers, his sister is revealing that she believes the failed procedure caused a brain stroke that has left the inmate partially paralyzed.
His sister, Dr. Tonya Hervey, revealed the alleged complications in a complaint submitted Wednesday to the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH).
In the suit, she accuses Dr. Mark Walton Fowler with the Tennessee Department of Corrections of malpractice and torture. She also reveals new details describing the botched execution, describing her brother bleeding and audibly groaning in pain…