Nashville hospital medication error leaves at least 1 patient paralyzed after routine surgery, 3 others hurt

Four patients undergoing routine joint replacement surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville were allegedly injected with the wrong drug into their spine, leaving at least one woman paralysed. The hospital has acknowledged a "medication error" originating in its pharmacy, and the incident is now being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after being reported to the Tennessee Healthcare Facilities Commission.

Patients were reportedly given potassium phosphate instead of the anaesthetic Bupivacaine. One family member, Kristina Dorton, said her mother-in-law has no feeling from her breastbone down and it remains unclear whether or how far she will recover; a second patient has also reportedly been left paralysed, while the remaining two suffered serious complications. The hospital's chief executive, Dr Shubhada Jagasia, apologised, said the hospital self-reported the incident to state regulators on the day it occurred, and confirmed corrective safety measures have since been introduced.