Idaho to Allow Lethal Injections in Groin After Struggling to Insert IV Line into Death Row Inmate's Arms and Legs

Idaho will not allow lethal injections to be administered via central venous lines in the groin, neck, arm, or chest, following challenges in establishing standard IV lines during executions, according to a report.

The announcement comes in response to the failed execution attempt of Thomas Eugene Creech, who was on death row and could not have an IV line successfully inserted, despite multiple attempts, AP News reported.

The incident led to renovations in the execution chamber, leading the Idaho Department of Correction to remodel it to allow witnesses to observe the insertion of central lines through a closed-circuit camera.

The use of central venous lines as part of Idaho's execution protocols will begin pending the remodel.

"This is certainly nothing that has been used recently," said Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, according to the outlet. "It would seem to me that states that have experienced botches should not be pivoting to different methods before they solve and understand and correct the issues that caused the first problems."

The new process also addresses complications associated with standard IV insertion, which typically call for a surgeon's administration. However, it is not without its challenges. Legal disputes may arise as Creech's attorney's have since raised concerns about the constitutionality of repeated execution attempts.