Hospital news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital gave four joint replacement patients potassium phosphate instead of anesthetic, causing heart failure and paralysis. The hospital apologized and added safeguards, but the mix-up's cause remains.
Background
On Aug. 14, 2026, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown in Nashville administered the wrong medication to four patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. Instead of the anesthetic mepivacaine, they received potassium phosphate, leading to serious reactions including heart failure and paralysis. The hospital self-reported the incident, launched an investigation, and has since implemented new safety measures.
How it unfolded
- Aug 14, 2026Four joint replacement patients at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown receive potassium phosphate instead of anesthetic, causing serious reactions.
- Aug 20, 2026Hospital president Dr. Shubhada Jagasia confirms the error, says the hospital self-reported to state regulators and launched an investigation.
- Aug 23, 2026Hospital releases statement apologizing, announces safeguards including extra review for spinal medications and second pharmacist double-check.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Hospital apologizes and says it has implemented corrective safeguards to ensure patient safety.
- Public
- News reports indicate patients went into heart failure and at least two were paralyzed, raising concerns about the severity of the error.
Still unverified
The exact cause of the medication mix-up has not been disclosed; reports of paralysis are based on local news and not officially confirmed.