Daniel Mercer
A medication mix-up at a Tennessee hospital has resulted in severe outcomes for multiple patients.
At least four individuals who recently received treatment at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown are believed to have been accidentally administered the wrong medication during standard procedures. One of these patients, identified as 72-year-old Glenda Dorton, has been left paralyzed following her injection, and there are concerns it may be permanent. State officials are currently investigating this serious incident.
“At this time, she has no feeling, movement, or response to pain from her breastbone down. We are uncertain about her recovery prospects,” explained Kristina Dorton, Glenda’s daughter-in-law, during an interview with local news outlet WKRN News 2.
Understanding the Severity of the Medical Error
As reported by her family, Glenda Dorton was admitted for a knee replacement surgery at the hospital on Friday, August 14th.
Instead of receiving the intended anesthetic bupivacaine as part of a spinal epidural, she was mistakenly injected with potassium, although the precise formulation and dosage remain unclear. Following the procedure, she was quickly transferred to the intensive care unit. Kristina Dorton informed the Tennessean that physicians attributed the error to a medication mix-up originating in the hospital’s pharmacy.
Potassium injections can be clinically used to treat or prevent low potassium levels and various medical conditions. excessive potassium can pose serious health risks or even lead to fatal complications. For instance, potassium chloride is known to be used in lethal injections administered to prisoners.
Shubhada Jagasia, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas’s Midtown and West campuses, confirmed to Gizmodo that there are at least three additional cases linked to this medication error, but she refrained from disclosing specific details due to patient confidentiality.
“Our thoughts are with the four patients and their families affected by this incident. On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I express my deepest apologies for the harm incurred. We have personally met with each family to offer our full support, connected them with spiritual care teams, and ensured they have access to all necessary resources and ongoing medical care,” Jagasia stated.
“On the day of the incident, we proactively reported to state regulators and initiated a comprehensive investigation,” she added. “We have pinpointed the cause and established corrective measures.”
What Are the Next Steps for Affected Patients?
WKRN News 2 reported that officials from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission visited the hospital on Wednesday to undertake an investigation into the events that transpired. As of Thursday, Glenda Dorton remains paralyzed.
“We are hoping that bringing this to light will attract someone with the expertise to help… Time is critical for her recovery,” remarked Kristin Dorton.
Sadly, this type of medical error can have dire consequences. A 1998 case referenced by WKRN News 2 detailed a similar incident where bupivacaine was mistakenly replaced with potassium chloride during routine spinal anesthesia. In that incident, the patient experienced severe pain, cramps, and passed away within approximately two and a half hours following the injection.
David Bridges
