1727-1818...Phlebotomist enters execution chamber to determine appropriate placement for IV. The Phlebotomist examined offender Lockett's left and right arms, left and right legs, and both feet to locate a viable insertion point. No viable point of entry was located. The doctor then
examined the offender's neck and then went to the groin area.
The doctor puts an IV tap in Locket's groin. The phlebotomist leaves. The doctor administers the Midozolam, which is supposed to render him unconsciousness. 7 minutes later Lockett is still conscious. They wait 3 more minutes and say he is unconscious, so they inject the remaining two drugs, Vecuronium bromide and Potassium chloride.
8 minutes later, the phlebotomist and doctor check the IV. (There's no mention of when the phlebotomist re-entered the chamber.) Two minutes later, the doctor checks again and discovers the vein had collapsed and the IV line had become dislodged. "The drugs had either absorbed into tissue, leaked out or both."
The warden asks if they have enough drugs left to finish the job and if they can find another vein. The answer is no. The warden calls off the execution. Within the next 10 minutes, Lockett had a heart attack and died.
Here's the timeline in the letter, from the point all 3 drugs had been injected:
- 18:33...Doctor checked Offender Lockett for consciousness; offender was unconscious. Vecuronium bromide is administered intravenously.
Potassium chloride is administered intravenously.
- 18:42...Shades lowered; Phlebotomist and doctor check IV
- 18:44-18:56...The doctor checked the IV and reported the blood vein had collapsed, and the drugs had either absorbed into tissue, leaked out or both. The warden immediately contacted the director by phone and reported the information to the director. The director asked the following
question, "Have enough drugs been administered to cause death?" The doctor responded, "No." The director asked, "Is another vein available, and if so, are there enough drugs remaining?" The doctor responded, "No" to both questions. The director requested clarification as to whether enough drugs had been administered to cause death. The doctor responded, "No." The director asked the condition of the offender, the warden responded the doctor was checking the offender's heart beat and found a faint heart beat and the offender was unconscious.
- 1856...Director calls off execution under the authority granted by the governor.
- 1906 hours...Doctor pronounced Offender Lockett deceased
Time elapsed from point the tap was inserted (18:18)until the execution was called off (18:56): 38 minutes.
Adding to this nightmare scenario is the fact that Oklahoma had never used this combination of drugs before -- they were untested -- and the state refused to reveal the source of the drugs.
Patton ends the letter with his recommendations. They include asking for an indefinite stay for the next execution, so that staff have proper time for training. He also says he supports an independent, external review of Lockett's execution.
Haven't we seen enough of "The Needle and the Damage Done"?
