A Tennessee hospital has been accused of leaving a 72-year-old woman paralyzed after doctors allegedly mixed up an anesthetic for a deadly medication.
Kristina Dorton’s mother-in-law underwent a routine knee surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville on Friday, but when she woke up, she couldn’t feel the bottom half of her body, she said.
‘The joint replacement went wonderful. Her knee is great. The rest of her is not,’ Dorton told WKRN about her family member.
The patient’s daughter-in-law said that was when medical staff realized they made a grave mistake.
Instead of administering spinal anesthesia, a doctor gave the woman potassium, Dorton said. Uncontrolled amounts of potassium can cause serious complications, cardiac risks, and even death.
‘It was supposed to be the anesthetic. It was supposed to be Bupivacaine, and it was potassium, and we don’t know what quantity,’ she told the outlet.
Her mother-in-law has since been transferred to an intensive care unit, and her family is not sure when she will be able to feel the bottom part of her body again.
As if the matter couldn’t get any worse, several other patients have since come forward, alleging that a similar ‘event’ happened to them at the same hospital, according to the outlet.
Kristina Dorton’s (left-middle) mother-in-law (right-middle) underwent a routine knee surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville on Friday,but when she woke up, she couldn’t feel the bottom half of her body
Several other patients have since come forward, stating that a similar ‘event’ happened to them at the same hospital (pictured)
As many as four patients were impacted by a similar mix-up, the report stated.
Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, the president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital’s Midtown and West campuses, confirmed the alarming number of patients who’ve been affected by this.
‘Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event. On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients,’ Jagasia said, in part, to the outlet.
Officials did not confirm whether the other patients received potassium injections instead of an anesthetic, citing that it is against their privacy policy to release that information.
Jagasia said that hospital staff have met directly with those who have been impacted and have connected them with support, including spiritual care teams, WKRN reported.
Dorton said she and her family are aware that other patients are involved in this.
‘You can kind of feel the vibe in the waiting room, you know, it’s heavy. The doctors, it’s heavy with them,’ she explained.
She also shared a heartbreaking update that the treatment to reverse her mother-in-law’s paralysis is not working.
Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, the president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital’s Midtown and West campuses, confirmed the alarming number of patients who’ve been affected by this
‘This is life-changing. You don’t come out of this without some type of life-altering, catastrophic deficit,’ Dorton said, adding that all of this is especially heartbreaking because her mother-in-law is a very active and fit person.
When asked by the Daily Mail if her family plans to take legal action against the hospital, Dorton said she cannot discuss that.
She also noted that she and her family ‘have zero reason to blame the doctor, anesthesia team, or care teams.’
The Daily Mail contacted Jagasia for comment.
