Organ donations and transplants save tens of thousands of lives every year across the United States, according to the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations. However, they can also cause significant health problems if doctors are not careful because screening is required to ensure an organ is compatible with its recipient. Other medical errors can cause severe health complications or prove fatal if doctors are not careful throughout the transplant process.
A concerning investigation conducted by the U.S. Senate indicates that transplant errors are more common than many might have believed. According to the Washington Post, the Senate Finance Committee determined that 70 people died and hundreds more contracted diseases due to faulty organ transplants in a recent eight-year window. The report followed a two-and-a-half-year investigation and uncovered a range of issues throughout the medical transplant system.
The transplant malpractice lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., want to highlight these disturbing findings and offer help to anyone who has suffered harm as a result of botched transplants. If you or a loved one suffered from a medical transplant system error caused by malpractice, don’t wait to contact our office to speak with one of our medical malpractice attorneys.
Where Were the Errors Found?
The report from the Senate Finance Committee found errors throughout the medical transplant system, including:
- Doctors failing to identify diseases in donated kidneys, hearts, and livers
- Errors when attempting to match organ donors with recipients of the same blood type
- Delays in blood and urine tests to ensure donors and recipients are compatible prior to transplantation
- Healthy donor organs being accidentally disposed of
- Donor organs being lost during transport
These errors are upsetting and can cost potential organ recipients their lives. Roughly 106,000 people are waiting for organ transplants across the country, according to the Post, and 22 people die every day while waiting for a transplant.
How Many People Are Affected by Transplant Errors Due to Medical Malpractice?
As part of its investigation, the Senate Finance Committee looked at 1,118 complaints filed with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees most organ procurement organizations. After reviewing a recent UNOS report, the committee determined that 70 people died and 249 developed serious injuries due to screening errors during a recent eight-year window.
While this is a small fraction compared to the thousands of transplants performed every year, instances of transplant malpractice are notable because they often cause debilitating or fatal health problems. Worse, doctors and other healthcare providers could have prevented these adverse outcomes had they been more careful.
For All Medical Malpractice Cases, Call Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.
If you or a loved one has been hurt due to medical malpractice, including issues with an organ transplant, the team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., can help you seek the financial compensation and accountability you deserve. Call our office or visit our contact page to speak with a transplant malpractice lawyer in Illinois.
