Markets 
A Tennessee grandmother was left paralyzed from the chest down after her family claims she was allegedly given a drug used in lethal injections in a reported medicine mix-up at a hospital.
Glenda Dorton, 72, went into Nashville’s Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown on Friday for a knee replacement, where she was allegedly given potassium chloride instead of an epidural to control the pain, her family told WSMV4.
Potassium chloride can be extremely dangerous if incorrectly administered, and was used in the past as part of Tennessee’s lethal-injection protocol — although the Volunteer State now uses a different cocktail of drugs.
Dorton is now paralyzed from the chest down and remains in the ICU, her daughter-in-law Kristina Dorton told the outlet, as doctors determine whether they can reverse the damage.
At least three other patients were affected at the hospital in an undisclosed “event,” according to Ascension Saint Thomas management.
The hospital has not confirmed Dorton’s family’s claim that she was given the wrong medication.
No further information has been released about the other three patients, with the hospital citing patient privacy.
“On behalf of our leadership and care teams, I am deeply sorry for the harm caused to our patients,” hospital president and CEO Dr. Shubhada Jagasia told WSMV on Tuesday.
“We have met directly with each of the families to express our deep support, connected them with spiritual care teams, and ensured they have access to all appropriate resources and ongoing care needed,” added Dr. Jagasia.
The investigation is ongoing.
Ascension Saint Thomas did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
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