Now Reading: Indian-origin CEO apologises for Tennessee hospital drug mix-up that paralysed patient
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Indian-origin CEO apologises for Tennessee hospital drug mix-up that paralysed patient
Indian-origin CEO apologises for Tennessee hospital drug mix-up that paralysed patient
At least one patient has been left permanently paralysed after four people received potassium instead of standard pain relief drugs during routine knee replacement surgeries at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in…
At least one patient has been left permanently paralysed after four people received potassium instead of standard pain relief drugs during routine knee replacement surgeries at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 14. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing the mix-up after a state regulator flagged it.
Dr Shubhada Jagasia, the Indian-origin hospital president and CEO, issued a detailed statement taking responsibility. "I am deeply sorry for the harm caused," she said, adding the hospital self-reported to regulators, identified the cause, and implemented safety protocols.
Local news outlet NewsChannel 5 Nashville identified the paralysed woman as 72-year-old Glenda Dorton, whose family is now speaking with an attorney. Dorton's daughter-in-law said she realised something was wrong when she woke up burning and unable to feel her legs.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case spotlights the rare but devastating consequences of medication errors in US hospitals, where voluntary reporting to regulators often precedes civil lawsuits. Tennessee's Healthcare Facilities Commission can impose fines or corrective plans, but permanent paralysis introduces potential malpractice claims exceeding Rs 50 crore in damages. The hospital's self-reporting and swift admission of fault may mitigate regulatory penalties but does not shield it from litigation. For Indian-origin executives like Jagasia, the accountability standard reflects US healthcare culture: immediate public apology alongside process fixes, not legal silence. Watch for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's findings, which could escalate to criminal charges if gross negligence is proven.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
