A former Iowa paramedic is facing charges after allegedly administering the wrong medication to a man in need of medical assistance, resulting in his death. Deanna Fay LaMere, 46, who worked with Sioux City Fire Rescue, is accused of injecting James Foster Jr., 26, with rocuronium, a paralytic drug, instead of ketamine. The incident occurred on August 18, 2023, when LaMere and other first responders were called to assist Foster, who was in distress.
Upon arriving at the scene, the paramedics found Foster uncooperative and unable to be placed onto a cot for transport to the hospital. He was reportedly agitated and wouldn’t calm down, prompting LaMere, who was in charge of the medical response and the only qualified paramedic present, to make the decision to administer a dose of ketamine to sedate him. Ketamine is commonly used in emergency situations to calm patients who are agitated or experiencing severe distress.
However, LaMere allegedly drew the wrong medication from her supplies. Instead of ketamine, she administered rocuronium, a powerful paralytic agent typically used in controlled medical environments, such as during intubation for patients who need mechanical ventilation. Rocuronium causes paralysis and, when administered, the patient must be intubated within a short time frame, usually within 30 seconds to a minute, to ensure they can breathe properly. LaMere reportedly did not realize the error until she returned to the ambulance to retrieve what she thought would be a second dose of ketamine.
Rocuronium is not commonly used outside of extreme medical cases, and its effects are serious. Once injected, the drug causes paralysis and can stop the patient from breathing, making immediate medical intervention critical. LaMere, however, failed to act promptly after realizing her mistake. According to prosecutors, she knew the effects of rocuronium and understood the necessary steps to treat a patient who had been injected with it, but she did not take the required actions.
As Foster was being loaded into the ambulance, he reportedly complained that he couldn’t breathe. Shortly thereafter, he lost consciousness and became unresponsive. Paramedics attempted to perform CPR while transporting him to the hospital, and they informed the emergency room staff of the medication error upon arrival. Despite these efforts, Foster died two days later, on August 20, 2023. The cause of death was determined to be the administration of rocuronium, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Prosecutors argue that LaMere’s actions were negligent and contributed directly to Foster’s death. As a paramedic, LaMere was required to verify the medication before administering it, but she admitted to failing to do so. Additionally, after realizing the error, she did not take any immediate steps to correct it or alert others about the mistake. The criminal complaint against her states that she did not take appropriate action to treat Foster differently once she understood the gravity of the situation.
LaMere is facing charges of aggravated misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter. The exact date she stopped working as a paramedic is unclear, but the case has drawn attention to the importance of careful medication administration and the responsibility of medical professionals to act swiftly and correctly in emergency situations. The tragic incident highlights the potential consequences of medication errors and the critical need for thorough checks and immediate responses in life-or-death situations.
