Fatal Medication Mix-Up at Karolinska Triggers Emergency Transplants and Police Investigation
A medication error during heart surgery at Karolinska led to patient deaths, emergency transplants, and a police investigation, with hospital protocols now under review.
Key details
- Johan Pettersson and another patient received calcium chloride instead of potassium chloride during heart surgery at Karolinska.
- Both patients suffered cardiac arrest and required emergency heart transplants at Skånes universitetssjukhus.
- Pettersson died in early October due to complications from the medication error.
- Police investigation for possible manslaughter and multiple ongoing inquiries are in progress.
A tragic medication error at Karolinska University Hospital in 2026 has resulted in multiple fatalities and emergency heart transplants, prompting an ongoing criminal investigation and a review of hospital protocols. On August 18, Johan Pettersson, 55, underwent a routine heart valve surgery at Karolinska. During the operation, a critical mix-up led to him and another patient receiving calcium chloride instead of the intended potassium chloride. Calcium chloride, when administered incorrectly, can cause severe cardiac complications.
Both patients suffered cardiac arrest due to this error and required immediate heart transplants at Skånes universitetssjukhus in Lund. Despite initially stabilizing, Pettersson's condition worsened in the following weeks due to significant lung complications and heart muscle damage caused by the medication error. Unfortunately, he passed away in early October. The thoracic unit at Skånes university hospital confirmed that his death was directly linked to the medication mix-up and the resulting total heart attack.
Following these events, Skånes universitetssjukhus filed a police report, initiating a criminal investigation for possible manslaughter. Medical guidelines in Region Skåne mandate reporting deaths linked to healthcare errors to enable forensic examination. Investigations traced the error back to the pharmacy supplying Karolinska, which delivered calcium chloride instead of potassium chloride. Multiple procedural failures within Karolinska’s handling of the medications were identified.
Reacting swiftly, Karolinska University Hospital has reviewed and tightened its medication protocols, introducing additional checks to prevent recurrence. Both the Swedish Accident Investigation Board and police authorities are actively investigating the incident. The hospital emphasizes that patient safety is paramount and is committed to learning from this tragedy to improve surgical and pharmaceutical procedures.
This incident has raised significant concerns across Sweden's healthcare system about medication safety during critical surgeries, prompting calls for stricter controls and transparent reporting.
