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
Trending
EMT Ashley Diaz is being recognized for her resilience and dedication as she continues to save lives in a new role with FDNY EMS
Celebrate EMS Week, holidays, graduations, promotions and more with these gifts medics will love
Cleveland is exploring the use of drones to quickly assess scenes, aiming to boost safety for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics by providing live video before crews arrive
Less than 18 months into a $30M contract, Sonoma County Fire District is pushing for a major ambulance rate increase, citing rising labor costs and payer mix challenge