Organ Transplant Mistakes Kill

Organ transplants are operations where the organ of a donor is removed and given to a recipient.  In most cases, these transplants are life-saving procedures.  Unfortunately, there are cases when negligence and medical malpractice result in a negative outcome for the organ transplant recipients.

Mistakes during organ transplants are becoming more and more common as transplants of kidneys, lungs, hearts and other organs are being performed more often in hospitals throughout the United States.  The most commonly transplanted organs are kidneys.

Organs transplants save lives.  However if a substandard organ or diseased organ is used, then the patient’s opportunity to survive organ transplantation is diminished or completely extinguished.

Common organ transplant errors include:

• Receiving an infected organ
• Receiving a diseased organ
• Receiving an incompatible organ
• Malpractice occurring post-transplant
• Not receiving the donor’s authorization prior to transplant

One of the most common medical errors associated with organ transplants is infection.  There have been cases where the recipient has become infected with diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C, or bacterial meningitis after an organ transplant.  This can occur because the donor of the organ had the disease or an infection was transmitted to the organ during the procedure.  In some cases the donor organ was so badly diseased that the recipient would have been better off never having the operation.

Transplant recipients should not have to worry about receiving substandard or diseased organs.  Unfortunately, it is often the case that the recipients are so desperate to have the organ transplantation because without it they often face death.  From their point of view, receiving organ transplantation is a positive solution, not something that could result in a negative outcome because of medical error.

Unfortunately, in most cases where transplant errors occur, death is almost certain.  The main reason to have a transplant surgery is to save the life of the patient.  When it is done incorrectly, it is likely that the patient will not survive.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.