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Nashville hospital leaves patient paralyzed after drug mix-up when they went for routine epidural
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville acknowledged a medication error that affected four patients during joint replacement procedures, leaving at least one woman paralyzed from the chest down. The hospital self-reported the incident and implemented corrective measures, while investigations are underway.
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville has left one patient paralyzed and three others harmed, according to multiple reports. On August 14, four patients undergoing joint replacement procedures were supposed to receive an anesthetic but were instead administered potassium phosphate, leading to adverse health reactions.
The Incident
The hospital admitted that the patients received potassium phosphate instead of the anesthetic mepivacaine, as reported by multiple outlets. The mix-up occurred in the hospital's pharmacy, where syringes intended to hold bupivacaine were filled with potassium, according to The Independent, citing News Channel 5 Investigates. Potassium is vital for bodily functions but can lead to heart attacks in excessive amounts and is used in lethal injections, the outlet noted.
The Patient's Story
The paralyzed patient was later identified by WZTV as Glenda Dorton, a 72-year-old woman from Centerville, Tennessee, who was admitted for a routine knee replacement. Her daughter-in-law, Kristina Dorton, told WKRN that she woke up after surgery unable to feel or move from the sternum down, diagnosed with T-6 paralysis. "The joint replacement went wonderful," Dorton said. "Her knee is great. The rest of her is not." She emphasized the uncertainty of recovery: "We don't know what recovery looks like or if there is recovery. This is life-changing."
Hospital Response
The hospital acknowledged the mistake and issued an apology. "Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted by the recent event," said Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, president and CEO, in a statement. "On behalf of our leadership and care teams, we extend our deepest apologies for the harm caused." The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day and implemented changes, including separating "high-alert" medications and having a second pharmacist conduct a visual and physical check of the medication. It also engaged independent quality experts for a review.
Investigations
State regulators launched an investigation into the incident, according to The Independent. Fox News reported that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating after receiving information from the Tennessee Healthcare Facilities Commission.
Perspectives
The hospital has apologized and stated that the four patients received immediate medical care. Meanwhile, the family of Glenda Dorton is consulting legal counsel, as The Independent reported. They are awaiting potential recovery but are uncertain, as expressed by Kristina Dorton. The hospital also said that a full review confirmed no other patients were affected beyond the initial four.
How each outlet told it
Fox News — World
Framing: Uses 'allegedly' in the headline and focuses on the hospital's alleged wrongdoing; emphasizes the investigation and legal implications. — Sensational and dramatic; uses 'allegedly' multiple times, quotes family's emotional language, and includes a mention of 'ORGANS' in an unrelated section.
Facts Included:
Four people at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville were allegedly given the wrong drug during joint replacement surgeries, leaving at least one woman paralyzed.
The hospital acknowledged a 'medication error' in their pharmacy leading to 'adverse health reactions.'
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident.
Kristina Dorton, identified as the patient's daughter-in-law, said her mother-in-law has no feeling from the breastbone down.
A second patient may also be paralyzed, per CBS News.
Hospital CEO Dr. Shubhada Jagasia apologized and outlined corrective actions.
The hospital said it self-reported to state regulators the same day.
Framing: Emphasizes the 'devastating mistake' and its consequence, paralysis, but does not mention the hospital name or date. — Serious and sympathetic; uses 'devastating' and includes direct apology from the hospital.
Facts Included:
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
Four patients were affected by the error on Aug. 14.
The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day it was discovered.
Changes were made including separating 'high-alert' medications and having a second pharmacist verify medications.
Hospital statement: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted...'
Framing: Focuses on the patient's 'routine' procedure and the 'drug mix-up' leaving her paralyzed, emphasizing the routine nature versus the catastrophic outcome. — Alarmed and sympathetic; uses 'permanently paralyzed', 'potentially-deadly', and quotes family's 'life-changing' and 'catastrophic deficit'.
Facts Included:
At least one patient left permanently paralyzed and three others harmed after anesthetic swapped with potassium during routine surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Midmont in Nashville.
State regulators launched an investigation.
72-year-old woman from Centerville admitted for knee replacement; her daughter-in-law Kristina Dorton is quoted.
Family says treatment to reverse paralysis has failed; they are consulting legal counsel.
Hospital CEO Dr. Shubhada Jagasia apologized and said the hospital self-reported to state regulators and implemented corrective safeguards.
Potassium can cause heart attacks and is used in lethal injections.
Framing: Highlights the error and the patient's paralysis, using British spelling 'paralysed' and 'routine procedure'. — Informative and factual, but sympathetic to the patient; uses neutral language but highlights the error.
Facts Included:
A woman was left paralysed and others impacted after staff at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville gave incorrect medicine.
Four joint replacement patients were affected by the error, which occurred on 14 August.
Patients received potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine.
The hospital said patients experienced 'adverse health reactions' and received immediate care.
Family of Glenda Dorton, 72, spoke out; she has T-6 paralysis.
CEO Dr. Shubhada Jagasia apologized and said the hospital implemented corrective safeguards.
Changes included separating high-alert medications and a second pharmacist check.
The hospital self-reported to state regulators and engaged third-party experts.
Framing: Emphasizes the 'devastating mistake' and its consequence, paralysis, but does not mention the hospital name or date. — Serious and sympathetic; uses 'devastating' and includes direct apology from the hospital.
Facts Included:
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
Four patients were affected by the error on Aug. 14.
The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day it was discovered.
Changes were made including separating 'high-alert' medications and having a second pharmacist verify medications.
Hospital statement: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted...'
Framing: Emphasizes the 'devastating mistake' and its consequence, paralysis, but does not mention the hospital name or date. — Serious and sympathetic; uses 'devastating' and includes direct apology from the hospital.
Facts Included:
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
Four patients were affected by the error on Aug. 14.
The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day it was discovered.
Changes were made including separating 'high-alert' medications and having a second pharmacist verify medications.
Hospital statement: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted...'
Framing: Emphasizes the 'devastating mistake' and its consequence, paralysis, but does not mention the hospital name or date. — Serious and sympathetic; uses 'devastating' and includes direct apology from the hospital.
Facts Included:
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
Four patients were affected by the error on Aug. 14.
The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day it was discovered.
Changes were made including separating 'high-alert' medications and having a second pharmacist verify medications.
Hospital statement: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted...'
Framing: Emphasizes the 'devastating mistake' and its consequence, paralysis, but does not mention the hospital name or date. — Serious and sympathetic; uses 'devastating' and includes direct apology from the hospital.
Facts Included:
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
Four patients were affected by the error on Aug. 14.
The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day it was discovered.
Changes were made including separating 'high-alert' medications and having a second pharmacist verify medications.
Hospital statement: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted...'
Framing: Emphasizes the 'devastating mistake' and its consequence, paralysis, but does not mention the hospital name or date. — Serious and sympathetic; uses 'devastating' and includes direct apology from the hospital.
Facts Included:
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
Four patients were affected by the error on Aug. 14.
The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day it was discovered.
Changes were made including separating 'high-alert' medications and having a second pharmacist verify medications.
Hospital statement: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted...'
Framing: Emphasizes the 'devastating mistake' and its consequence, paralysis, but does not mention the hospital name or date. — Serious and sympathetic; uses 'devastating' and includes direct apology from the hospital.
Facts Included:
A medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
Four patients were affected by the error on Aug. 14.
The hospital self-reported the error to state health regulators the same day it was discovered.
Changes were made including separating 'high-alert' medications and having a second pharmacist verify medications.
Hospital statement: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted...'
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimA medication mix-up at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville left Glenda Dorton paralyzed from the chest down after she was given potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine during a knee replacement.
ClaimAscension Saint Thomas Hospital stated: 'Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted by the recent event at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown.'
ClaimThe mix-up is believed to have originated in the hospital's pharmacy, where syringes intended to hold the anesthetic bupivacaine were filled with potassium.