Tennessee death row inmate's lawyers fear expired lethal injection drugs

Attorneys for a Tennessee death row inmate say they are concerned the state may be planning to use expired lethal injection drugs at a planned execution on Thursday.

Attorneys for Tony Carruthers have asked the Tennessee Department of Correction for assurances about the drugs, given the state has a history of failing to properly test them.

The state's response says it will comply with its own rules about monitoring drug expiration dates.

Public opposition to executions has made it difficult for prisons to obtain execution drugs.

In response, many states have passed laws shielding information that could identify the source of their drugs.

Tennessee has argued in court that the shield extends to revealing expiration dates.