A devastating medication error at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville has left at least one patient paralyzed and three others injured following routine joint replacement surgeries. According to Kristina Dorton, her mother-in-law, who underwent a standard knee surgery, was injected with potassium phosphate instead of the intended anesthetic, Bupivacaine. The mix-up has resulted in the patient losing all sensation from her breastbone down, with her family unsure if any recovery is possible. Reports indicate a second patient may also be paralyzed, while the other two suffered serious complications. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now involved, looking into the incident that the hospital has acknowledged as a pharmacy error, stating they have self-reported to regulators and implemented corrective safeguards. However, the family of the paralyzed patient expresses despair, noting that current treatments are not working and emphasizing the urgent need for a solution to this life-altering catastrophe.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
