Tennessee Judge Rules on Death-Row Inmate’s Medical Device Prior to Execution
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee officials have been ordered to deactivate a medical device in a death-row inmate before his execution. This decision came from Nashville Chancellor Russell Perkins just days before the scheduled execution of Byron Black on August 5.
Black’s legal team raised concerns that his implanted heart-regulating device could intervene during the lethal injection, potentially administering painful shocks to restart his heart. The judge’s ruling requires medical professionals to be present to disable the device just before the injection, ensuring that the inmate does not suffer undue pain during the process.
While Black’s attorneys argue that the only effective way to turn off the device is through direct programming, the timeframe for securing a medical professional to perform the task remains uncertain. The state is likely to appeal this ruling quickly, asserting that it does not impede the planned execution.
Black’s implant, a small device typically placed near the collarbone, was put in place in May 2024. Its purpose is to act as both a pacemaker and an emergency defibrillator. During recent hearings, expert testimonies conflicted regarding how this device would function during the execution and whether Black might feel anything if it activated.
Arguments from the state maintained that the lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, would prevent the device from functioning. They claimed that if it did activate, Black would be unconscious and unaware, suggesting there would be no pain. However, Black’s attorneys contested this view, stating that while pentobarbital might induce amnesia, it does not guarantee a lack of pain.
Kelley Henry, one of Black’s attorneys, expressed relief over the ruling, emphasizing the potential horror of Black experiencing shocks while the state pursued his execution.
Black, who has been on death row since 1988, was convicted of murdering his girlfriend and her two young daughters in a fit of jealousy. Despite having already postponed his execution multiple times, he is accused of attempting to delay justice.
His legal representation has consistently argued that he should not face execution due to claims of intellectual disability, which a recent state Supreme Court ruling has rejected. They have also submitted a request for the governor to consider commuting his sentence, citing a variety of health issues that plague the 69-year-old inmate, including dementia and heart failure.
As the legal battles continue, Black remains a focus of heated debate regarding the death penalty and the complexities surrounding capital punishment in Tennessee.
