Nashville Hospital Mix-Up Paralyzes 72-Year-Old Patient After 4 Receive Wrong Drug
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 26
Nashville Hospital Mix-Up Paralyzes 72-Year-Old Patient After 4 Receive Wrong Drug
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 26
Summary
Glenda Dorton, 72, arrived at a Chicago spinal injury rehabilitation clinic Tuesday after a medication error at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown left her paralyzed from the sternum down.
On Aug. 14, staff gave potassium phosphate instead of the anesthetic mepivacaine to four patients undergoing routine procedures, including Dorton’s knee replacement surgery.
Ascension Saint Thomas said it halted all remaining surgeries that day after noticing serious adverse reactions in the four patients and has not disclosed the others' identities or conditions.
Tennessee’s Health Facilities Commission and Bureau of Investigation are separately investigating the error, which has drawn scrutiny over safeguards for routine hospital procedures.