The director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections says the agency will renovate the state's death chamber and get new equipment for executions, including a tool that will allow staff to more easily find suitable veins for lethal injections.
Prisons director Robert Patton discussed the troubled April 29 execution of Clayton Lockett on Monday. Lockett writhed and moaned before he was declared dead 43 minutes after his execution began.
A report issued last week blamed Lockett's flawed lethal injection on poor placement of intravenous lines. The medical team could not find suitable veins in Lockett's arms, legs, neck and feet, leading the team to insert it in his groin.
Patton says that upgrades to the death chamber will include new communication devices so government officials can know what's going on.
______________________________________
KGOU is a community-supported news organization and relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online, or by contacting our Membership department.
