Tennessee hospital says pharmacy error has left at least one patient paralyzed

A Tennessee hospital says a pharmacy error left at least one patient paralyzed after four joint replacement patients received potassium phosphate instead of an anesthetic medication.The error occurred Aug. 14 at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville. The four patients were supposed to receive mepivacaine, a local anesthetic. Instead, they were given potassium phosphate.“The four patients experienced adverse health reactions and received immediate medical care,” the hospital said in a statement reported by Nashville’s FOX 17 News.Ascension Saint Thomas said a comprehensive review found no other patients were affected, and that leadership self-reported the incident to state regulators after identifying the error.One of the patients was 72-year-old Glenda Dorton, who had gone to the hospital for a knee replacement.Her family told FOX 17 she was supposed to receive an anesthetic through an epidural before surgery. Dorton woke up after the procedure unable to feel or move from the sternum down, according to her family. They were later told she has T-6 paralysis.“Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted by the recent event at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown,” the hospital said. “On behalf of our leadership and care teams, we extend our deepest apologies for the harm caused.”Ascension Saint Thomas said it has since introduced new safeguards around high-alert and spinal medications.High-alert medications are now stored in separate, distinctly marked locations. Any spinal medication scan alert must trigger a stop and be resolved through independent verification.The hospital has also added another verification step for spinal medications. A second trained pharmacist must perform final visual and physical checks.Ascension Saint Thomas said it continues to work with state and federal officials following its self-report. Independent quality experts have also been brought in to review and validate the hospital’s mitigation plans.“Any gap in meeting that standard receives our immediate, uncompromising attention,” the hospital said. “We remain steadfastly committed to supporting those affected and upholding safety standards for every person who trusts us with their care.”

Tennessee hospital says pharmacy error has left at least one patient paralyzed

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