Paramedic Kills Man with Wrong Injection. Isn’t a paramedic expected to be extremely careful when administering medication?

A former paramedic in Iowa is being charged with a crime after she allegedly gave a man the wrong medicine, which led to his death.

Deanna Fay LaMere, 46, used to work as a paramedic with Sioux City Fire Rescue. She’s accused of giving 26-year-old James Foster Jr. a drug called rocuronium instead of ketamine... Continue reading here ▶

On August 18, 2023, LaMere and other first responders went to help Foster, who was in distress.

Reports say that Foster was agitated and wouldn’t cooperate with being put on a stretcher to go to the hospital.

LaMere, who was in charge and the only one there who could give medication, decided to give Foster ketamine to calm him down.

But, according to authorities, LaMere grabbed the wrong drug and injected Foster with rocuronium, which causes paralysis.

She reportedly realized her mistake only after going back to the ambulance to get what she thought was a second dose of ketamine.

Prosecutors said rocuronium is only used in very serious situations. Usually, after someone gets rocuronium, they need to have a breathing tube inserted within 30 seconds to a minute. Because Foster got the drug as a shot, it took a little longer to work, but it still wasn’t enough to save him.

As Foster was being put into the ambulance, he said he couldn’t breathe. He then lost consciousness and went limp. The first responders performed CPR on the way to the hospital and told the emergency room staff about the medication error when they arrived.

Foster died two days later, on August 20, 2023. The medical examiner said he died because he was given rocuronium.

Prosecutors say LaMere knew what rocuronium would do and how to treat someone who received it, but she didn’t do the right things.

The official complaint says that paramedics are required to double-check the medication before giving it. LaMere admitted she didn’t do this. It also says that after she realized her mistake, she didn’t tell anyone or change how she was treating Foster.

LaMere is charged with a serious form of involuntary manslaughter. It’s not clear exactly when she stopped working as a paramedic.