On August 5, 2025, the state of Tennessee executed prisoner Byron Black by intravenous injection of a large dose of pentobarbital . Witnesses to his execution reported that he was visibly in distress or discomfort. Before he died, he reportedly said, " I can't do this, " and that it was hurting "so bad." We cannot know specifically what he felt.

Black was not a healthy man. According to his lawyer, he had an ischemic cardiomyopathy with an estimated ejection fraction of 15-20%. He had undergone hip replacements despite being advised that his operative mortality risk was very high. In May 2024, Black underwent an implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)-dual chamber pacemaker set at a backup rate of 60 beats per minute and a shock heart rate threshold of 220.

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