Drug Mix-Up at Nashville Hospital Paralyzes 72-Year-Old, Family Alleges

The Big Picture: What We Know So Far

Imagine going to the infirmary for a regular genu country and waking up incapable to determination your legs. That’s what happened to 72-year-old Glenda Dorton astatine Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown successful Nashville, Tennessee.

She’s not alone—at slightest 4 patients were harmed during what the infirmary calls an "unspecified event." Here’s the elemental breakdown of what we know:

Important Callout: Key Facts astatine a Glance

• Who: Glenda Dorton (72) + astatine slightest 3 different patients
• Where: Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, Nashville, TN
• When: Friday (surgery day) → Tuesday (hospital statement)
• What went wrong: Alleged medicine mix-up during surgery
• Current status: Dorton paralyzed from thorax down, successful ICU; infirmary investigating

What Happened to Glenda Dorton?

The Plan vs. What Actually Happened

Why Potassium Chloride Is So Dangerous

Simple Explanation: Potassium chloride is simply a medicine that affects however your bosom beats. In the right tiny doses, it tin assistance with definite conditions. But if fixed the wrong way oregon wrong amount, it tin halt the bosom oregon origin terrible nervus damage. It’s truthful almighty that it was erstwhile utilized successful lethal injections for executions (Tennessee present uses a antithetic drug).

How the Hospital Responded

The Hospital’s Official Statement

Dr. Shubhada Jagasia (Hospital President & CEO) said:

"On behalf of our enactment and attraction teams, I americium profoundly atrocious for the harm caused to our patients. We person met straight with each of the families to explicit our heavy support, connected them with spiritual attraction teams, and ensured they person entree to each due resources and ongoing attraction needed."

What the Hospital Says They’ve Done

1. Self-reported the incidental to authorities regulators the aforesaid time it happened
2. Launched an contiguous investigation
3. Identified the cause (but haven’t shared it publically yet)
4. Implemented "corrective safeguards" (new information rules to forestall this from happening again)
5. Enhanced information protocols for objective teams
6. Met with each 4 families directly

What We Still Don’t Know: The infirmary has not publically explained:

• Exactly how the incorrect cause was given
• What happened to the other 3 patients
• The circumstantial "cause" they identified
• Whether the paralysis is imperishable oregon reversible

The Family’s Perspective

Waiting for Answers, Hoping for Recovery

Glenda’s daughter-in-law, Kristina Dorton, shared their communicative with WSMV4:

• Glenda went successful Friday for a routine genu replacement
• Family was told she’d get an epidural (standard symptom control)
• Instead, she received potassium chloride
• Now: paralyzed from thorax down, successful ICU, surrounded by family
• Big question: Can any of the harm beryllium reversed?

Think About It: This wasn’t a high-risk experimental surgery. It was a common genu replacement—something thousands of radical person safely each year. The household expected her to locomotion better afterward, not suffer the quality to determination her legs entirely.

Why This Matters to Everyone

Medical Errors: A Bigger Problem Than You Might Think

• Medication errors are 1 of the most common types of aesculapian mistakes
• They tin hap astatine any hospital—even bully ones
• Systems should person aggregate information checks (like double-checking drugs earlier giving them)
• When those checks fail, real radical get hurt

What "Self-Reporting" Means (And Why It Matters)

ELI5 Definition: Self-reporting = The infirmary told the authorities regulators themselves that thing went wrong, alternatively of waiting for idiosyncratic other to find out. It’s similar a kid telling their genitor "I broke the vase" earlier the genitor sees it. It’s required by law, but it besides shows the infirmary isn’t trying to fell it.

Summary: The Story successful a Nutshell

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

What is an epidural, and wherefore was she expected to get one?

A: An epidural is simply a pain-blocking medicine delivered done a tiny conduit successful your back. It numbs you from the waist down truthful you don’t consciousness symptom during country (like a genu replacement) but enactment awake. It’s standard and precise common for this benignant of surgery.

How could a infirmary springiness the incorrect medication?

A: We don’t cognize the nonstop details yet. Usually, hospitals person multiple information steps: a doc orders it, a pharmacist checks it, a caregiver verifies it and the patient’s ID and the medicine statement earlier giving it. For this to happen, several checks apt failed astatine once.

Can paralysis from potassium chloride beryllium reversed?

A: It depends connected how the harm happened and how fast it was caught. Nerve harm tin sometimes amended with clip and therapy, but spinal cord wounded from chemic vulnerability is very serious. Her doctors are inactive evaluating.

What happens to the different 3 patients?

A: The infirmary cites patient privateness laws (HIPAA) and hasn’t shared their conditions. We lone cognize Dorton’s communicative due to the fact that her family chose to talk publicly.

Should I beryllium disquieted if I person country scheduled there?

A: The infirmary says they’ve added caller information measures and are nether investigation. If you person concerns, talk to your surgeon—ask what circumstantial steps they instrumentality to forestall medicine errors. You person a close to know.

Final Thoughts

This communicative is simply a reminder that behind each aesculapian statistic is simply a existent person—a grandmother, a mother, a wife—whose beingness changed successful an instant during what should person been a regular procedure.

The infirmary has apologized and says they’ve fixed the problem. The household waits, hopes, and demands answers. And regulators volition analyse to marque definite this ne'er happens to anyone else.

Remember: If you oregon a loved 1 ever has surgery, ask questions. Know what medications you’re getting. Have an advocator with you. You are the astir important portion of your information team.

Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved. Original reporting by WSMV4 Nashville.