Full Breakdown
Medication Mix-Up Leaves Four Patients Harmed, One Paralyzed at Nashville Hospital
8/22/2026, 12:45:44 AM
Core Event
At Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville, a medication error during routine knee-replacement surgeries resulted in four patients receiving potassium chloride instead of the intended epidural anesthetic. One patient, 72-year-old Glenda Dorton, was left permanently paralyzed from the chest down. The hospital described the incident as an “event” that harmed four individuals and has launched an internal investigation.
Background & Context
Knee-replacement procedures commonly use an epidural injection of a local anesthetic such as bupivacaine to control postoperative pain. Potassium chloride, an electrolyte used in cardiac care and historically in lethal-injection protocols, is toxic when introduced into the spinal canal, potentially causing paralysis and respiratory failure. The error originated in the hospital pharmacy, where syringes intended for anesthetic were filled with potassium.
Data & Statistics
- Four patients were affected by the medication mix-up.
- Glenda Dorton suffered a T6-level spinal cord injury, resulting in loss of movement and sensation from the sternum down.
- The conditions of the other three patients have not been disclosed, citing privacy.
- The pharmacy supplied the incorrect medication to all four patients.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, said the hospital self-reported the incident to state regulators on the day it occurred and began a thorough investigation. She added that leadership met with each family, connected them with spiritual-care teams, and ensured access to ongoing resources. Clinical teams are now using “enhanced safety protocols” while the investigation remains active.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics note that drugs like potassium have clear warning labels and that multiple safety checks are required before a medication leaves the pharmacy. They argue the incident reflects a failure of the hospital’s oversight mechanisms rather than an isolated human error.
On-the-Ground Reports
Kristina Dorton, Glenda Dorton’s daughter-in-law, recounted that her mother-in-law awoke after surgery unable to move or feel anything from the chest down. She was transferred to Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, placed on a ventilator, and underwent spinal-fluid drainage and high-dose steroid treatment. The ventilator was removed the following day, but paralysis persisted. Kristina said the family does not blame the surgical or anesthesia teams, emphasizing a desire to understand how the mistake occurred and to prevent future incidents.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the specifics of the cause and the condition of the three other patients. Some reports attribute the error directly to the pharmacy’s preparation of the syringes, while the hospital has not publicly confirmed this finding. Detailed clinical information about the other patients remains withheld, leaving their outcomes unknown. Although the hospital states it has identified the cause and implemented safeguards, no public description of those safeguards has been provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event,” — Dr. Shubhada Jagasia
- “Instead of the anesthetic that was going into her spine for that epidural procedure, before the surgery even started, it was potassium,” — Kristina Dorton
- “It was supposed to be the anesthetic,” — Glenda Dorton
