The China Mail - Four patients harmed in Nashville hospital medication mix-up

A 72-year-old Tennessee woman was paralysed from the waist down after receiving potassium instead of the pain medication normally used in a spinal epidural, her family says.

Glenda Dorton underwent knee-replacement surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville on August 14. The operation itself was successful, but her family said the medication error caused a spinal injury and left her in a critical condition.

Four patients received the wrong medication before procedures, according to local television reports. At least one other patient was paralysed and another was admitted to intensive care. Potassium chloride, previously used in Tennessee's lethal-injection protocol, can be dangerous when administered incorrectly or in a high dose.

The precise cause of the error remains under investigation. Dorton's family said the hospital told them that contaminated medication vials had come from its pharmacy. Hospital president and chief executive Dr Shubhada Jagasia said the institution reported the incident to state regulators, identified the cause and introduced corrective safeguards.

Dorton was transferred to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, which treats patients with spinal-cord injuries, strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Her daughter-in-law, Kristina, said the family hoped for recovery while preparing for the possibility that the paralysis would be permanent.

The family said it did not blame Dorton's doctors, anaesthesiologist or immediate care team, but attributed the error to the hospital pharmacy.

Jagasia apologised for the harm to the four patients and said the hospital would support those affected. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was reported to be examining the incident after notification by the state Healthcare Facilities Commission.

D.Wang--ThChM