What to Do After a Surgical Medication Error

A recent WKRN report describes a family’s allegation that a woman was left paralyzed after receiving potassium during surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown in Nashville. The allegation is devastating, and the full facts may continue to develop as the incident is investigated. It is also a painful reminder that when the wrong medication is prepared, labeled, or administered, a routine procedure can become a life-changing emergency.

Patients and families facing a suspected medication error deserve answers, appropriate medical care, and an opportunity to understand their legal options. A surgical medication error is not automatically medical malpractice. But when a health care provider fails to use the reasonable care expected in the circumstances and that failure causes harm, a health care liability claim may be possible. DRS Law helps injury victims and families across Tennessee evaluate serious medical-error cases with compassion and care.

What the Nashville Report Means for Patients

The WKRN article reports that a family said their loved one underwent surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown and later suffered paralysis after an alleged potassium medication error. The report underscores why patients and families should seek individualized information about an unexpected surgical complication rather than relying only on early news coverage or a general statement from a medical provider.

For an affected patient, the first priority is medical stabilization and follow-up care. Family members may then have urgent questions: What medication was ordered? What medication was actually given? Who prepared it? When did the care team recognize there was a problem? What treatment was provided? What effects may be temporary or permanent? Complete medical records can help begin to answer those questions.

How Medication Errors Can Happen During Surgery

Safe medication administration in an operating room depends on several people and several layers of protection. Before a medication reaches a patient, it may be ordered, selected, prepared, compounded, labeled, transported, checked, and administered. An error can occur at any point in that process.

Potential errors can include selecting a look-alike or sound-alike medication, using the wrong concentration, mislabeling a syringe or bag, making a compounding mistake, failing to complete an independent double-check, giving medication through the wrong route, or missing warning signs after administration. A thorough investigation should not assume one individual is solely responsible before the facts are known. Training, supervision, staffing, pharmacy procedures, communication, technology, and safety policies may all be relevant.

For that reason, a serious medical malpractice investigation may examine medication-handling protocols, pharmacy and anesthesia records, medication administration records, operative records, staffing information, incident reports, and communications concerning the event.

When New Symptoms After Surgery Require Urgent Attention

Pain, nausea, fatigue, and grogginess may occur after surgery and anesthesia. But patients and families should promptly report symptoms that are severe, sudden, worsening, or inconsistent with what the care team explained.

• Unexpected weakness, numbness, or loss of movement
• Difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting, or an irregular heartbeat
• Seizures, confusion, or loss of consciousness
• Extreme or escalating pain that does not respond to treatment
• New speech, vision, or balance problems
• A rapid decline after a medication is given

These symptoms can have different medical causes and do not, by themselves, prove an error. They do warrant immediate medical attention. If a loved one cannot speak for themselves, a family member can ask questions, take notes, and request that concerns be documented in the medical chart.

Steps to Take After a Suspected Medication Error

First, focus on the patient’s health. Ask treating providers about the diagnosis, testing, treatment plan, prognosis, specialist referrals, rehabilitation, and any need for an independent second opinion. Make sure the patient receives appropriate ongoing care.

Next, preserve information. Keep a written timeline of symptoms, conversations, admissions, transfers, medications, and expenses. Save discharge paperwork, prescription information, appointment reminders, photographs, bills, insurance correspondence, and messages from the hospital. If you know the names and roles of providers involved, note them accurately. Avoid speculating about who is at fault until the records and facts can be reviewed.

Request complete medical records as soon as practical. In a potential surgical medication-error case, important documents may include the operative report, anesthesia record, medication administration record, pharmacy-compounding documentation, laboratory results, nursing notes, imaging, discharge summary, billing records, and follow-up treatment records. These materials can be critical to understanding what happened and when.

What Must Be Shown in a Medical Malpractice Case

Every case is different. Generally, a health care liability claim requires evidence that a provider did not meet the applicable professional standard of care and that the failure caused compensable harm. This often requires review by qualified medical experts. A tragic outcome alone does not establish malpractice; the investigation must determine whether preventable negligence caused or contributed to the injury.

Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include medical expenses, rehabilitation and long-term care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, physical pain, emotional suffering, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. When negligence results in death, surviving family members may have additional claims. DRS Law approaches catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases by understanding how an event has changed a person’s life and their family’s future—not simply by reviewing a chart.

Why Legal Timing Matters in Tennessee

Tennessee health care liability cases have procedural requirements and strict deadlines. In many situations, a potential claimant must provide pre-suit notice to prospective defendants at least 60 days before filing suit. Tennessee law also generally has a one-year limitations period, although the exact deadline may depend on the facts and legal issues involved.

Waiting can make it more difficult to preserve evidence, obtain records, and identify every responsible party. Speaking with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer early does not obligate a patient or family to pursue a lawsuit. It can provide clarity about records, deadlines, investigation, and available options.

FAQ

Can a hospital be responsible for a pharmacy or anesthesia medication error?

Potentially. Responsibility depends on the facts, including employment relationships, the hospital’s policies, supervision, and how the medication was ordered, prepared, checked, and administered. A detailed investigation is necessary.

What if the hospital says the complication was a known surgical risk?

Some complications can occur without negligence. However, a known risk does not excuse a preventable medication error or a failure to respond appropriately to a patient’s condition. Medical records and expert review are important.

Do I need to know exactly what happened before contacting a lawyer?

No. Patients and families often do not have complete information right away. An attorney can help obtain records and evaluate whether the available evidence supports further investigation.

Should I sign paperwork from the hospital or insurer?

Read every document carefully. Before signing a release, settlement agreement, or statement about the incident, consider speaking with an attorney about how it could affect your rights.

How can DRS Law help after a serious medical error?

DRS Law represents people harmed by catastrophic injuries and medical negligence in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia. Our team can evaluate the facts, preserve key evidence, work with qualified experts, and pursue accountability when the evidence supports a claim.

If you or someone you love suffered a serious injury after surgery, contact DRS Law for a free legal consultation. We are committed to listening carefully, explaining your options, and advocating for families seeking answers after a preventable medical error.