Cleveland hospital transplanted kidney into the WRONG patient (msn.com)
I find this more than shocking. How troubling on many levels.
I honestly don’t see how this happened. At every stage, everyone who dealt with you at my hospital would look at your arm band and ask you to repeat your full name and date of birth. What the holy heck?!?!?!
Additionally, there are protocols in the OR that have to be followed. When we give blood, we have to check it with the lab before bringing it to the unit. Then two nurses have to check it against the chart and the patient’s arm band. That’s just for BLOOD.
The surgeon didn’t recognize his patient? The anesthesiologist never spoke to the patient before surgery? No one in the OR checked the arm band with patient recitation? No time outs in OR?
So many people have to screw this up that I can’t help but think that disciplinary action against “2 medics” is nothing but scapegoating.
This is just mind boggling to me.
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I don’t know, my dad’s care last year was so poor that nothing surprises me. Ugh.
I will say that Mom’s care this year was night-and-day different. The different specialists collaborated and kept the family informed on a regular basis. No errors were made. If anyone in Austin needs a hospital, go to Dell Seton and not St. David’s!! Seriously.
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That’s crazy. UH is a big hospital system and has a very good reputation
Medics?? What would they have to do with it? @silverlady , or anyone who ever sees more about how this happened, please let us know. This is just a nightmare.
Can you imagine if you donated your kidney to your daughter, or your son, or spouse, and you wake up and hear “sorry, lady, but your kidney went to Joe Schmo, who was down the hall from your daughter. I’m afraid she’s going to have to wait for another kidney.”
I can’t imagine the rage I would be feeling.
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In case you want the story from a less disreputable and more local source, you can try here:
I can’t help but wonder if the “mistake” was intentional - especially since the recipient was a match. Perhaps the two responsible had someone they thought was more deserving? It will be interesting seeing what comes of it if it gets reported.
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Did the person who mistakenly received the donated kidney need a kidney, or was his/here healthy kidney removed and discarded?
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Sounds like there were 2 kidney transplant surgeries scheduled that day. The mistake was noticed when the second patient was in the OR. The first patient received the kidney that was intended for the second. I suspect at that point, they couldn’t give the first kidney to the second patient as it doesn’t work that way.
UH has locked down the particulars of the situation. Which is what they do as they need to for lawsuits and investigation.
It’s a terrible, terrible mistake.
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Back when my dad had his transplant they always called in two potential recipients. Both went through the full pre-op procedures. When my dad got his transplant he was the back up. Turns out the first person had an elevated white cell count and a fever so he couldn’t receive the heart.
I wonder if the mix up here was with the back up person incorrectly getting the kidney.