A tragic incident in Sioux City, Iowa, has led to charges against a former paramedic after a mix-up with medication cost a man his life. Deanna Fay LaMere, 46, who worked with Sioux City Fire Rescue, is accused of mistakenly giving the wrong drug to 26-year-old James Foster Jr., who died two days later.
The events unfolded on August 18, 2023, when first responders arrived at a scene where Foster was reportedly in distress. According to court records, Foster was agitated, and the responders struggled to get him onto a cot for transport to the hospital. That’s when LaMere, the paramedic in charge and the only one on-site qualified to administer medication, decided to give him ketamine—a drug often used to calm patients in such situations.
However, instead of ketamine, LaMere accidentally injected Foster with rocuronium, a powerful drug that causes paralysis and is typically reserved for extreme situations. It was only when LaMere returned to the ambulance to prepare what she thought would be a second dose of ketamine that she realized her mistake.
Authorities explained that rocuronium requires immediate action because it paralyzes the patient’s ability to breathe. In most cases, patients need to be intubated within 30 to 60 seconds after receiving the drug. Since the injection was administered instead of an IV, there was slightly more time—but not enough to save Foster’s life.
As the responders were loading Foster into the ambulance, he reportedly said he couldn’t breathe. Moments later, he lost consciousness and became unresponsive. CPR was performed on the way to the hospital, and emergency room staff were informed of the medication error upon arrival. Despite their efforts, Foster passed away on August 20, 2023. The medical examiner confirmed his death was caused by the rocuronium injection.
Prosecutors allege that LaMere knew the effects of rocuronium and how to respond to such a situation but failed to take the necessary steps to save Foster. They also pointed out that paramedics are trained to double-check medications before administering them, a protocol LaMere admitted she did not follow.
LaMere now faces an aggravated misdemeanor charge for involuntary manslaughter. According to reports, she is no longer working as a paramedic. The community is left grappling with the loss of a young man and the unsettling circumstances that led to his death.
