University Hospitals has placed two employees on leave after a patient received a kidney intended for another person.

The hospital system released a statement Monday night acknowledging the mistake. The patient who received the kidney was compatible with the organ and is recovering, the statement says. However, another patient’s surgery has been delayed because of the error.

“We have offered our sincerest apologies to these patients and their families,” the statement says. “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 did not say when the mistake occurred. The hospital system has performed 95 kidney transplants this year, according to the U.S. Department Health of Human Services Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. The system performed 194 kidney transplants in 2020.

The hospital system has notified the United Network for Organ Sharing about the error. The UNOS manages the national organ transplant system. 

The statement says the hospital system is “carefully reviewing this situation to understand what led to the error and to ensure that such an event will never happen again.” The two staffers will remain on leave during an investigation into the incident. Source: Reuters

In these extraordinary times, millions rely on KidneyBuzz.com as an independent reporting platform that stands for truth and integrity. You’ve read multiple articles in the last year alone. With no shareholders or billionaire owner, we report on kidney events and breakthroughs with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. And unlike many others, we’re committed to keeping our kidney-related journalism open for all readers. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a difference. Support us from as little as $1. Thank you.