Multiple patients went into cardiac arrest after a ‘pharmacy error’ led to a dangerous drug mix-up.

Two patients are paralyzed, and one is on a ventilator at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital after they were given the wrong medication prior to surgery.

The four patients were reportedly given potassium instead of an anesthetic. The dangerous mix-up happened at the hospital’s in-house pharmacy.

Too much potassium administered too quickly can stop a person’s heart, CBS reported.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is now involved in the case.

The hospital said they were “sorry” for injecting the patients with too much potassium.

“Our hearts remain entirely with the four patients and families impacted by the recent event at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown,” the hospital said. “On behalf of our leadership and care teams, we extend our deepest apologies for the harm caused.”

WZTV reported:

Ascension Saint Thomas is revealing new details about a medication error at its Midtown hospital that harmed four joint replacement patients, saying the patients mistakenly received potassium phosphate instead of an anesthetic medication.

The hospital said the error happened Friday, Aug. 14, inside the pharmacy at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown.

According to a statement released Friday, the four patients were supposed to receive mepivacaine, an anesthetic medication. Instead, the hospital said they received potassium phosphate.

“The four patients experienced adverse health reactions and received immediate medical care,” the hospital said.

Ascension Saint Thomas said a comprehensive review confirmed no other patients were affected.

The new information comes after FOX 17 News spoke with the family of 72-year-old Glenda Dorton, who said she went to Saint Thomas Midtown on Aug. 14 for a routine knee replacement and was one of the patients impacted.

More on this story from CBS Evening News:

Multiple patients at a Nashville hospital are paralyzed after staff accidentally gave them the wrong drugs.

The hospital says they are “sorry” after injecting potassium chloride into the spines of people getting routine joint replacement surgeries.

Hospital staff noticed… pic.twitter.com/ZvzDgx2cdN

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 22, 2026