Tennessee woman goes in for routine knee replacement surgery. Now, she is paralyzed from the chest down: ‘deeply saddened by the reported harm’

A 72-year-old Tennessee woman, Glenda Dorton, is currently paralyzed from the chest down following an alleged medication error during a routine knee replacement surgery. This incident, which occurred on August 14, has prompted a state investigation and significant changes to safety protocols at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown.

According to FOX 17, the family of the Centerville resident stated that the error involved the administration of potassium instead of the anesthetic intended for an epidural procedure. Per PEOPLE, the hospital later clarified that four of the seven patients scheduled for joint replacement surgeries that day mistakenly received potassium phosphate instead of the intended anesthetic, mepivacaine.

Per The New York Times, Dorton couldn’t move or feel anything from below her sternum after she woke up from her knee operation. Her daughter-in-law, Kristina Dorton, stated that the doctors then rushed Dorton to the ICU. There, she was placed on a ventilator, and her spinal fluid was drained to remove the excess potassium. She was then treated with steroids with the hope that a high dose would reverse the damage. 

Understanding the failure

The New York Times reported that Dorton began six weeks of intensive treatment at a Chicago spinal injury rehabilitation clinic in Chicago on August 20. Kristina told FOX 17 that the family does not blame the immediate medical team, including the doctors and anesthesiologist.

“We’re not looking to ruin somebody’s life,” Kristina reportedly said. “They need to figure it out, so it never happens.” Per NYT, she also said she had “no reason to believe it could have been an intentional act by a rogue employee.” Earlier this year, the accidental administration of penicillin despite the patient’s allergy resulted in the worst outcome. 

In a statement provided to FOX 17, Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, the president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, expressed regret regarding the situation. “Our hearts are with the four patients and their families impacted by this event,” Dr. Jagasia said. “On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients.”

The hospital confirmed that it self-reported the incident to state regulators on the same day it occurred and has since launched an internal investigation. The hospital also detailed several new safety measures they were implementing to prevent a recurrence of a similar situation.

According to the statement, this includes the storage of high-alert medications in separate, clearly marked locations and a requirement for independent dual verification by pharmacists for spinal medication workflows. Furthermore, the hospital implemented a mandatory hard-stop and escalation process for any spinal medication scan alerts.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American Pharmacists Association also issued a joint statement regarding the incident. “ASHP and APhA are deeply saddened by the reported harm experienced by Glenda Dorton and by the devastating impact this event has had on her family and loved ones,” the organizations stated. 

They emphasized the importance of a just culture that promotes transparency and learning. They further noted that their organizations “stand firmly against punitive actions that criminalize medication errors.” In a different case of a pharmacy mix-up, a Walgreens accidentally gave a prescription to someone else and then accused the patient of drug seeking.

The family’s attorney, Marc Walwyn, told NYT that the family is choosing to wait for the completion of official investigations by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation before considering any legal action. Walwyn also shared that Ms. Dorton is a retired schoolteacher who is an avid gardener and a collector who rents a booth at a local antique shop. 

He told NYT that the family remains hopeful for her recovery. “The family is praying for a 100 percent recovery, and she has an incredible sense of humor, and an incredible positive outlook,” he said.

In its August 27 update, Ascension Saint Thomas addressed survey findings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The hospital stated that it is cooperating with both state and federal officials. “Providing safe, high-quality, patient-centered care is at the core of our mission, and any gap in meeting that standard receives our immediate, uncompromising attention,” the hospital stated.

Interestingly, as reported by NYT, Ascension Saint Thomas was one of ten Tennessee hospitals recognized in a list of “Best Regional Hospitals.” This was established based on measures like patient outcomes, safety, and experience.

Per the outlets, the family remains focused on Dorton’s recovery and is grateful for the support they have received. They also look forward to the results of the ongoing investigation into how such an error could occur in a clinical setting. The hospital has maintained that it has engaged independent, third-party quality experts to review its mitigation plans and ensure that the new safety protocols are effective.