80-Page Report Reveals New Details About Pharmacy Technicians Involved in Drug Mix-Up That Left Patients Paralyzed at Nashville Hospital

An 80-page report details a pharmacy error at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital where five syringes intended for anesthetic were mistakenly filled with potassium phosphate. This error led to multiple patients experiencing cardiac arrest and paralysis after receiving the wrong medication before surgery on August 14. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is involved, and the hospital has issued an apology for the harm caused.

• Multiple patients were given potassium instead of anesthetic prior to surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital on August 14.
• At least two patients are paralyzed, and one required a ventilator.
• An 80-page report from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission details the pharmacy error, identifying five syringes mistakenly filled with potassium phosphate instead of Mepivacaine.
• The error occurred despite involvement from three pharmacy technicians and one pharmacist, with a pharmacist reportedly verifying syringes in only 29 seconds.
• The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is involved in the case, and the hospital has apologized for the incident.