Nashville Hospital Medication Error Causes Paralysis in At Least One Patient, Injures Three Others

A severe medication error at a Nashville hospital has reportedly left at least one patient paralyzed and caused serious complications for three others following routine joint replacement surgeries. The incident, which occurred at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, involved patients being injected with an incorrect substance into their spines.

The hospital acknowledged a "medication error" within its pharmacy on Friday, confirming that patients were administered potassium phosphate instead of bupivacaine, a standard anesthetic. This critical mix-up led to patients experiencing "adverse health reactions."

Profound Impact on Patients and Families

Kristina Dorton shared with local media the devastating impact on her mother-in-law, who was left paralyzed from the breastbone down. "The joint replacement went wonderful. Her knee is great. The rest of her is not," Dorton stated, highlighting the stark contrast between the successful surgery and the unforeseen medical complication. She emphasized the family's lack of information regarding the quantity of potassium administered and the unknown prospects for recovery.

"We don’t know what recovery looks like or if there is recovery," Dorton expressed. Reports indicate that the other three patients involved also suffered serious health issues due to the error, with one report suggesting a second patient also experienced paralysis.

Hospital's Response and Corrective Actions

Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital, released a statement addressing the incident. "Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event," Jagasia said. "On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients."

Dr. Jagasia confirmed that the hospital leadership has met directly with each of the affected families, offering support, connecting them with spiritual care teams, and ensuring access to necessary resources and ongoing treatment. She affirmed the hospital's commitment to patient safety.

"Providing safe, high-quality care is at the core of everything we do, and any gap in meeting that standard receives our immediate, uncompromising attention," Dr. Jagasia stated. "The day of the event, we self-reported to state regulators and launched a thorough investigation. We identified the cause and have implemented corrective safeguards."

The hospital's clinical teams are now actively employing enhanced safety protocols to uphold the "highest level of safety at Midtown," according to Dr. Jagasia.

Uncertain Future and Urgent Hope

Despite the hospital's assurances, Kristina Dorton indicated that the current treatments for her mother-in-law have not been effective. She underscored the profound and irreversible nature of the injury. "This is life-changing. You don’t come out of this without some type of life-altering, catastrophic deficit," she said.

The family is desperately seeking expertise, hoping someone will know how to help her mother-in-law. Dorton stressed the critical importance of time in any potential recovery effort, adding, "Time is of the essence here for recovery."