Major Hospital Admits Pharmacy Error After Surgical Patients Suffer Paralysis
Nashville, Sunday, 23 August 2026.
A severe pharmacy error at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville left a surgical patient paralyzed after receiving potassium phosphate instead of anesthetic, triggering state and criminal investigations.
Incident Overview and Pharmacy Error Details
On August 14, 2026, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville, Tennessee, experienced a critical medication error affecting four joint replacement patients [1][2]. The hospital publicly admitted that potassium phosphate was administered instead of the intended anesthetic medication during routine surgical procedures [1][3]. This incident occurred within the hospital’s pharmacy department and was self-reported to state regulators on the same day it occurred [1][4]. The error highlights significant operational risks within large healthcare management networks and has triggered immediate regulatory scrutiny [2][5].
Patient Impact and Medical Consequences
At least one patient, 72-year-old Glenda Dorton, suffered paralysis from the sternum down following the administration of the incorrect medication via epidural [1][4]. Family members reported that while the knee replacement surgery itself was successful, the patient lost sensation from the breastbone down due to the medication mix-up [2][4]. Reports indicate that another affected patient was placed on a ventilator as of August 20, 2026, underscoring the severity of the adverse health reactions [6][8]. Medical experts note that potassium phosphate carries risks including serious heart rhythm problems and potential destruction of spinal cord tissue if infused incorrectly [4][6].
Investigation and Regulatory Response
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) began an investigation on August 22, 2026, after receiving information from the Tennessee Healthcare Facilities Commission [2][5]. This level of involvement is rare, with local attorneys noting that the TBI has been involved in medical malpractice cases only twice in over 40 years [5][7]. The Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed they are not participating in the investigation, leaving the TBI to lead the inquiry into potential systemic failures or foul play [5][7]. Legal experts suggest that safeguards should have been in place to prevent the error from happening across four separate occasions [5][7].
Hospital Response and Safety Protocols
Ascension Saint Thomas leadership issued a statement expressing deep apologies and confirming that all four patients received immediate medical care [1][3]. The hospital has implemented new safety protocols, including isolating high-alert medications and requiring mandatory hard-stop escalation procedures for spinal medication scan alerts [3][6]. Additionally, a new independent dual verification protocol mandates a second trained pharmacist to perform final visual and physical checks on spinal medicine workflows [3][6]. As of August 23, 2026, 9 days have passed since the incident, during which the hospital has engaged independent quality experts to validate mitigation plans [1][6].