Christa Pike survived the death penalty, what will happen to the prisoner in Tennessee now?

Christa Pike, who spent nearly three decades on death row in Tennessee, United States, survived punishment last week. American justice planned to end her life and gave her two doses of pentoarbital, but she was not killed. The woman was sentenced to death in 1996 for a murder committed at the age of 18.

The injections he was given are usually fatal, and in American history there is a long list of failures, both in electric shocks and injections, which leave the condemned man dying and require a second attempt, within minutes.

However, he has never survived such a situation, and there is no protocol in American justice that sets out the next steps.

Pike is currently hospitalized with unknown prognosis, according to doctors. "His condition has no medical record," his lawyers said.

The 50-year-old woman is conscious and has even spoken, but the consequences of the injections are unknown, although the doctors who treated her have ensured that her recovery will be long.

What about the punishment?

In a way, the death sentence has already been applied to him, and it is not clear whether the State of Tennessee will try again, or whether the sentence will be served, but the second attempt will not be immediate.

A "thorough" investigation

On the one hand, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has temporarily suspended this year's executions, arguing that "the enforcement of legally established sentences is among the most important responsibilities of the state, and that the people of Tennessee hope to do so not only legally and constitutionally, but effectively."

That means they're not going to kill Pike or anyone else who's been convicted, at least until we do a "thorough" investigation.

Neurological effects that prevent execution

Secondly, it remains to be determined what consequences will remain for Pike's health, which may suffer severe neurological damage as a result of the deadly drug. Perhaps in such circumstances the convicted person would not be able to understand the sentence itself and its connection to the crime committed.

If the prosecution requests his re-execution, Pike's defense may request his annulment because he is neurologically incompetent.

Another attempt would be "too cruel."

Finally, UN High Commissioner Volker Turk has urged the authorities to "refrain from further attempts at execution." Turk has also talked about the need to abolish the death penalty itself.

But also, the second attempt would be an "atypical and cruel punishment," which is prohibited in the US Constitution, an argument that will be used by Pike's lawyers and human rights defenders. "The prolonged physical and mental suffering caused by the many failed attempts is hateful and cruel, and the fundamental issues associated with the right to a fair trial remain unresolved," Türk wrote on social media.

Can it go free?

Anyway, even if a new attempt to end his life was ruled out, Pike would not be released. His defense works with the possibility of a life sentence without parole.