Glenda Dorton was left paralyzed from the chest down after an Ascension St. Thomas drug mixup during a knee replacement at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, her family says. The 72-year-old went to the Nashville hospital on Friday for surgery and was supposed to receive an epidural for pain control.
Her family says she was given potassium chloride instead. Kristina Dorton said the error left her in the ICU while the family waits to learn what comes next for her recovery.
Dr. Shubhada Jagasia on Tuesday
Ascension Saint Thomas said at least four patients were harmed during the same undisclosed event and reported it to state regulators on the day it happened. Dr. Shubhada Jagasia said earlier on Tuesday that the hospital quickly identified the cause and implemented corrective safeguards.
Jagasia also said the hospital met directly with the families to express support and connected them with spiritual care teams. In the hospital statement, she said: "On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients," and "Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event."
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown
The hospital said its clinical teams are following enhanced safety protocols after the incident. It has not released specific information about the other three patients or what they experienced, citing patient privacy.
The unanswered part is how potassium chloride was administered during surgery instead of the intended epidural, and what caused the error in the first place. For Glenda Dorton and her family, the immediate question is whether any of the damage can be reversed while she remains in the ICU.
