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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