Woman Paralyzed After Hospital Gave Her Potassium Chloride Instead of Epidural Medication
A 72 year old Tennessee woman is paralyzed from the chest down after her family says she received the wrong medication during a knee replacement procedure at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville.
Glenda Dorton went to the hospital for knee replacement surgery on Friday. According to her family, she was supposed to receive an epidural to help manage pain during the procedure. Instead, the family says she was given potassium chloride.
Dorton’s daughter in law, Kristina Dorton, told WSMV that the medication error left her mother in law paralyzed from the chest down. Dorton remains in the intensive care unit as doctors work to determine whether any of the neurological damage can be reversed.
At Least Four Patients Were Harmed
Dorton is one of at least four patients the hospital says were harmed in what Ascension Saint Thomas initially described as an unspecified event.
The hospital has not released details about the other three patients, citing patient privacy. It also has not publicly explained exactly how the medication mix-up occurred or how the wrong drug was administered.
Hospital President and CEO Dr. Shubhada Jagasia apologized to the affected patients and their families.
“I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients,” Jagasia said.
The hospital said it met with each affected family, connected them with support resources and ensured they had access to ongoing medical care.
Potassium Chloride Can Be Dangerous When Given Incorrectly
Potassium chloride is a medication used in medical treatment, but it can be extremely dangerous when administered incorrectly. The drug has also historically been part of Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol, although the state now uses a different drug for executions.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged medication error remain under investigation. The hospital has not publicly confirmed all of the details described by Dorton’s family, including precisely how potassium chloride was administered.
Hospital Reports Incident to State Regulators
Ascension Saint Thomas said it reported the incident to state regulators on the day it occurred and immediately launched an internal investigation. According to the hospital, staff quickly identified the cause of the incident and implemented corrective safeguards. Clinical teams are also following enhanced safety protocols following the event. The hospital said its priority remains supporting the four patients and their families while maintaining patient safety.
Family Waits for Answers
For Dorton’s family, the investigation comes as they face uncertainty over her future. The 72 year old remains in the ICU, with her relatives hoping doctors can determine whether she will regain movement or other functions. The hospital has not publicly released a detailed explanation of what caused the medication mix-up. The investigation remains ongoing. The case raises serious questions about medication safety and the safeguards designed to prevent the wrong drug from reaching a patient, particularly during surgery. For now, Dorton’s family is waiting for answers while doctors continue treating the consequences of the alleged medication error.
