Drug mix-up at Ascension impacts at least 4 surgeries, leaves 1 patient paralyzed

Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown has left patients receiving joint replacements worse for wear after at least four were injected with a potentially tainted medication, in a serious medical mix-up that has left at least one paralyzed from the waist down.

In a statement, the hospital was light on the details, but President and CEO Shubhada Jagasia, MD, told NewsChannel 5 in Nashville that the hospital is apologetic and connecting the families of victims to resources, while an investigation into what happened remains ongoing.

"On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients,” she said. “We have met directly with each of the families to express our deep support, connected them with spiritual care teams, and ensured they have access to all appropriate resources and ongoing care needed."

As for how drugs were mixed up, what was injected into patients, and what the status is of the injured—all of that is still being looked into, as families begin to talk to lawyers about potential litigation.

The incidents all happened during surgeries scheduled for Aug. 14.

Deadly potassium in the mix?

NewsChannel 5 reporters spoke to one of the patients—a woman from Centerville, Tennessee, who was on the operating room table for a knee procedure and woke up unable to use her legs, paralyzed from the chest down.

The epidural she was set to receive for pain ended up being something else. The patient said her injuries were likely permanent.

Reporters were able to confirm at least three others were also injured, but the full extent of their injuries is currently unknown.

Ascension told the outlet it reported the incidents to the state, as required by law.

In their report, NewsChannel 5 said they were told by a source that an anesthetic called bupivacaine was somehow contaminated in syringes with potassium, which could have been fatal.

That has not been confirmed, as an investigation into all of the above is just getting started.

For more, read NewsChannel 5’s coverage at the link below.