Capital punishment is surging in the US – but after Christa Pike’s botched execution, what is its future?

AI Summary

The article examines a rise in executions in the United States and the problems exposed by Christa Pike’s botched execution attempt. It describes the Trump administration’s push to increase executions and the scrutiny of lethal-injection procedures following difficulties locating veins for the injection.

Trump has used the full might of the presidency to supercharge executions, but an avalanche of mishaps has put the system’s flaws in the spotlight It took more than an hour to establish the two intravenous lines through which Christa Pike would be injected with a giant and normally lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital, and in that time she did everything she could to assist those who were attempting to kill her. “Please try here,” she said over and over again to Tennessee’s execution team, pointing to specific parts of her body where she thought they might find a vein as they repeatedly stabbed her with needles. “Please try here, I think it will be OK. Please try up on my shoulder, higher.” Continue reading...