Hospital Drug Error Investigation
Hospital Medication Mix-up Leaves Four Patients Injured, Including One Paralyzed Woman
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left a 72-year-old woman paralyzed from the chest down and harmed at least three other patients WILX. Glenda Dorton went to the hospital for a routine knee replacement surgery but received potassium chloride in her epidural instead of bupivacaine, a local anesthetic. The wrong drug caused severe paralysis that has dramatically altered her life.
How the Wrong Drug Reached a Surgical Patient
Dorton arrived at the hospital expecting a standard knee replacement procedure 12onyourside. Medical staff prepared an epidural injection to numb her lower body during surgery. Instead of the safe anesthetic bupivacaine, someone filled the syringe with potassium chloride—a dangerous medication typically used to treat low potassium levels in the bloodstream. The hospital has not yet explained how this critical error occurred or what safety systems failed to catch it.
Four Patients Affected by the Hospital's Mistake
Dorton was not the only victim of this medication mix-up WOWT. At least three other patients also received the wrong drug during procedures at the same hospital. The hospital has provided limited details about what happened to these additional patients or the extent of their injuries. Family members remain deeply frustrated that Ascension Saint Thomas has not disclosed how the error occurred or what specific safeguards failed.
Investigations Launched Into Hospital Safety Failures
Two separate investigations are now underway into the incident KFYRTV. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission is examining the hospital's practices and safety protocols. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also looking into the case. Ascension Saint Thomas has apologized for the harm caused to patients and their families, but officials have not yet announced what changes they will make to prevent similar errors in the future.
A Life Transformed by Medical Error
Dorton's paralysis has fundamentally changed her daily life WTOC. The 72-year-old woman, who expected to recover from routine knee surgery, now faces permanent mobility challenges. Her family has expressed anger and grief over the irreversible consequences of the hospital's mistake. The case raises serious questions about how hospitals store dangerous medications and who has access to them during surgical procedures.
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