How does a mistake like this happen?

[T.J. Jackson]

A girl recieved the wrong bloodtype organs for her transplant. I know mistakes happen, but wouldn't you think that they have checks and double checks on this stuff? The hospital is reviewing their procedures.


Jesica underwent transplant surgery February 7 to replace her own deformed heart that deprived her lungs of oxygen. Although Jesica's blood is type O-positive, she received organs with type-A blood. Her body immediately rejected the organs.






http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/02/18/transplant.error/index.html

 

[bknight2602]

One would think so, but there are always human errors, compounded in this case.

 

[Lost Cause]

Last count I saw..

90,000 physician related deaths by malpractice. The CDC should declare them a pandemic!

 

[sweet soft kiss]

My boss and I were wondering about how this happened ourselves... We work with transplant patients... It's a horrible, tragic major fuck up... I feel so sorry for the poor girl and her family...

 

[lobito]

I read about it last ngiht, adn the first thought I had was, why aren't they doing tests of some sort on the organs BEFORE they are actually transplanted? If not the hospital doing the transplant, then wherever the organs were "harvested".

I didn't read the article again, and I won't because it's sad, but the hospital I believe was a well respected hospital, and I'd think that covering their ass, should be pretty high up the line on things to prepare for surgery.

 

[JerseyBoy]

i know that docs will nowadays write with marker on the body 'Yes' or 'No' and other markings to help avoid mistakes.

Perhaps a nice big O+ woulda helped here

 

[T.J. Jackson]

i know that docs will nowadays write with marker on the body 'Yes' or 'No' and other markings to help avoid mistakes.

Perhaps a nice big O+ woulda helped here

Sad but true. I've heard stories of them removing the wrong limb in an amputation surgery. I know most doctors are great at what they do, but it seems that such mistakes can be easily eliminated by simple procedures.

 

[T.J. Jackson]

DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 20 — A 17-year-old girl who received a heart and lungs that didn’t match her blood type was returned to surgery Thursday morning after new, matching organs were found. Jesica Santillan, who had been clinging to life after the botched operation, was undergoing organ transplant surgery for a second time at Duke University Hospital.



http://www.msnbc.com/news/874197.asp?0cv=CB10



I see they found new organs for her. I hope all goes well this time.

 

[Guest]

 

[RobDownSouth]

I read where it was a line item on a lengthy checklist to verify the blood type match.

After this fiasco, Duke will now require three separate verifications of the blood type matching. Hopefully this will never happen again.

 

[nitengale]

Blood errors are far the scariest errors that occur, yet they go on in many institutions, and in truth the easiest to avoid. Human error is always the cause.

 

[Mrs Christophe]

i honestly don't know how this could happen...at our hospital, giving blood to a patient has 4 people checking the blood, minimum....let alone harvesting organs!!

 

[ithaqua]

Re: Last count I saw..

90,000 physician related deaths by malpractice. The CDC should declare them a pandemic!

Annual statistics
Accidental deaths by physician 90,000
Accidental deaths by guns 1,500.

Physicians are more dangerous than hand guns! A lot more.

http://www.securityshopper.com/Protect_Home/Doors/Windows/Burglar_Alarm/Neighborhood/guns.html

 

[Summery]

I know. I've been following this story all week. It's truly tragic. I wonder if the new organs are going to help. It sounds like the damage has already been done, regardless. Sigh...