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Former Iowa medic pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charge

Prosecutors said the former Sioux City Fire Rescue paramedic failed to verify the medication before drawing it up and gave the patient rocuronium instead of ketamine

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — A former Sioux City Fire Rescue paramedic has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter after allegedly administering the wrong medication to a patient who later died.

Prosecutors say Deanna LaMere responded to a medical call on August 18, 2023, where she attempted to calm 26-year-old James Foster Jr. with Ketamine, KTIV reported.

However, she mistakenly injected him with Rocuronium. Foster soon complained he couldn’t breathe, lost consciousness, and died two days later.

Authorities allege LaMere failed to verify the medication and did not immediately notify medical personnel of the error.


ANALYSIS | ‘We keep making the same mistakes’

Remain consistent once you’ve established the patient’s weight, ensure you know what’s in your containers and practice dosing calculations to prevent medication administration errors
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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.