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Nashville Woman Sues Ascension Saint Thomas for $150 Million Over Medication Error That Left Her Paralyzed
Linda Gilbert, 78, alleges she suffered a permanent spinal cord injury after receiving potassium phosphate instead of an anesthetic during knee replacement surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown. Her lawsuit, the first tied to the August incident that affected four patients, seeks $50 million in compensatory and $100 million in punitive damages.
A Nashville woman has filed a $150 million health care liability lawsuit against Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown, alleging that a medication error during a routine knee replacement left her with a permanent spinal cord injury and unable to walk independently.
Linda Gilbert, who was 78 at the time of the procedure, filed the complaint through her son in Davidson County Circuit Court on November 6. It is the first lawsuit connected to an August incident in which four joint-replacement patients at the Midtown hospital were mistakenly given potassium phosphate instead of the intended anesthetic, mepivacaine.
According to the lawsuit, potassium phosphate was injected into Gilbert's spinal canal during her knee replacement. The complaint alleges she suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury that caused severe weakness and loss of use of her legs. She is currently receiving inpatient rehabilitation, and her attorneys say the injuries are permanent.
The suit alleges that hospital staff continued using syringes from the same batch even after two earlier patients reported burning pain. It also points to failures in the pharmacy's medication preparation and verification processes and delays in Gilbert's treatment.
Gilbert is seeking $50 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages, along with a jury trial. Her lawsuit also challenges Tennessee's statutory limits on noneconomic damages, arguing they should not apply in her case.
Ascension Saint Thomas said in a statement that it is aware of the complaint and is cooperating with the legal process. "Our sympathy and concern remain with the affected patients and their families," the health system said. "As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to share additional details at this time."
The hospital has previously said it self-reported the error to regulators and made changes to pharmacy processes and safety protocols. In September, federal regulators removed the hospital's "Immediate Jeopardy" status after validating those corrective measures, according to prior statements from the health system.
The case raises broader questions about patient safety and accountability at one of Nashville's largest hospital systems. For Gilbert and her family, the lawsuit represents a bid for both compensation and systemic change, as they allege that warning signs from earlier patients were ignored.
The lawsuit is ongoing, and no trial date has been set.