A patient received the wrong kidney during a transplant procedure last month. Following the Los Angeles medical mistake, USC University Hospital temporarily shut down its program. Fortunately, according to program spokesperson Bryan Stewart, the patient was not harmed because the kidney was an acceptable match.
Still, this type of medical error can prove fatal. While organ transplants can save lives, they can also result in serious health complications. Not only is it important that a patient receives a healthy organ, but also it must be the right match for his/her body. Our Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyers are happy to hear that USC took immediate action to prevent such an error from occurring again.
USC voluntarily stopped transplants on January 29--it usually performs two a week--after it realized a "process error" had occurred. The mistake happened after two kidneys arrived at the transplant center at the same time. Once the mistake was discovered, blood samples were used to determine if the kidney was compatible with the patient that received it. Fortunately the donor's blood type was O, which is universally accepted. The kidney intended for this patient was given to another person. The patient who was supposed to get the kidney that had been misplaced was given another organ a few days later. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and California's Department of Public Health have been investigating the medical mistake.
Getting onto a transplant list can be tough and the wait to receive one that is the right match can be long. It is important that hospitals and medical professionals employ the proper safety measures and procedures to prevent avoidable mistakes that could cause serious injury, health complications, or death.
Wrong patient got kidney at USC, Los Angeles Times, February 18, 2011
Transplant Program Shut Down After Man Gets Wrong Kidney, Good Morning America, February 18, 2011
Related Web Resources:
USC University Hospital
Kidney Transplantation, National Institute of Health
More California Injury Lawyers Blog Posts:
Doctor Sued for Los Angeles Medical Malpractice Gives Up License for a Second Time, California Injury Lawyers Blog, January 30, 2011
Is it Time to Lift the California Medical Malpractice Caps?, California Injury Lawyers Blog, January 22, 2011
Three Orange County, California Hospitals Fined for Medical Mistakes, California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 12, 2010
If you or someone you love was the victim of California medical malpractice, contact our Los Angeles personal injury law firm today.
