An autopsy found that Medina's death was instantaneous due to massive depolarization of the brain and brain stem when the first jolt of electricity surged through Medina's body. A doctor described it as like "turning the lights off". A neurologist testified that the apparent breathing movements were likely caused by the last vestiges of survival in the brain stem after the brain itself had died. A circuit court judge ruled that the flaws in the execution had been from "unintentional human error" rather than any faults in the electric chair's "apparatus, equipment, and electrical circuitry", though he did recommend that the lead leg piece be replaced with a more conductive brass electrode.