Federal officials are investigating three hospitals after transplant patients received organs from a donor infected with HIV and hepatitis. Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network procured the organs and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and the University of Chicago Medical Center were responsible for the actual surgeries.
This is the first known instance of HIV transmission through organ transplants in the US since 1986 and is the first time HIV and hepatitis have been spread simultaneously from one donor to multiple transplant recipients.
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of an infected female patient and claims Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network in Elmhurst and the University of Chicago both knew the kidney donor was high-risk and did not inform the patient.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say that gay men who are sexually active should not be used as organ donors unless the patient is in imminent danger of death. Federal guidelines say patients are supposed to be notified about the possibility of HIV infection from a high-risk donor even if tests show the donor does not have the virus.
Standard tests for HIV and hepatitis antibodies showed the donor did not have those diseases. Authorities say the donor probably acquired the infections a few weeks before death, too soon for the tests to detect antibodies. However, a newer, costlier test that is not widely available, can detect the virus earlier, but was not done in this case. That has led public health officials to press for more widespread use of the newer test.
Tainted Transplants Legal Help
If you or a loved one has been infected by a disease or virus after your organ or tissue transplant, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Last updated on Nov-19-07 |
|
