What is pentobarbital, the drug in Tennessee's failed execution?
Tennessee officials could not carry out the execution of Christa Gail Pike on Wednesday after giving her two doses of pentobarbital, putting a drug long used in medicine, and increasingly in death chambers, at the center of a national debate. But what is pentobarbital?
TL;DR
- Tennessee officials could not carry out the execution of Christa Gail Pike.
- The execution failed after two doses of pentobarbital were administered.
- Pentobarbital is a drug used in medicine and increasingly in death chambers.
- The incident has sparked a national debate surrounding the drug.