Ohio hospital transplants kidney into wrong patient
- Two kidney transplants were supposed to take place at University Hospitals on July 2
- A kidney intended for one person was mistakenly transplanted into the wrong patient
- The hospital issued an apology on Monday
In a major medical mistake, a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, transplanted a kidney into the wrong patient. The hospital issued an apology on Monday and said that two employees have been placed on leave.
Local reports stated that two kidney transplants were supposed to take place at University Hospitals on July 2. A kidney intended for one person was mistakenly transplanted into the wrong patient.
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Fortunately, the patient who received the kidney seems to be accepting it and recovering as the blood types were compatible.
“We are dismayed that an error recently occurred resulting in one patient receiving a kidney intended for another,” the hospital said in a statement.
“We have offered our sincerest apologies to these patients and their families. We recognize they entrusted us with their care. The situation is entirely inconsistent with our commitment to helping patients return to health and live life to the fullest,” the statement added.
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Because of this mix-up, the intended recipient is still waiting for the life-saving surgery.
Meanwhile, two employees will remain on leave till the internal investigation is over.
The hospital said it is “carefully reviewing this situation to understand what led to the error and to ensure that such an event will never happen again.”
So far this year, the hospital has performed 95 kidney transplants.
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Heather Mekesa, the chief operating officer of the northeast Ohio nonprofit organ tissue and recovery organization Lifebanc, told news station WEWS that such mix-ups are rare.
“99.9 percent of the time, this doesn’t happen, and organ donation truly does save lives. This incredibly rare, uncommon mix-up shouldn’t deter anybody from signing up on that donor registry and giving someone a second chance if possible,” she said.
“The unfortunate circumstance is there are not enough donors out there to really get that list down. And that’s so important,” she added.
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