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Faulty Diagnosis Puts Organ Donation In The Spotlight

Every year organ donation gives thousands of Americans a second chance at life. On any given day, 100,000 men, women and children are waiting for life-saving organs. Six thousand people die every year because no organs could be found for them.

The heartbreaking story of the young donor whose diseased organs were transplanted into four people has put organ donation in the spotlight and raised concerns about the donor selection process. The 15 year old boy was diagnosed with meningitis, but the actual cause of death was a rare and fast-moving lymphoma. By the time his autopsy results were in, the deadly disease was already wreaking havoc in the bodies of the organ recipients, two of whom had died. The other two recipients are undergoing chemotherapy.

Dr. Lewis Teperman, director of transplantation at New Your University Medical Center calls the tragedy a “very, very rare” event. “We are alerting people to the fact that if someone calls a death from bacterial meningitis and there is no bacteria, then the decision to use the organs should be reconsidered.”

Because of the overwhelming success in transplantation procedures in the past few years, the donor network is urging people not to let this tragic isolated case affect their decision to sign the donor registry. It is essential to let your family know of your desire to donate your organs after your death. Hospitals seek consent from the next of kin before removing organs.

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