The mix-up involved two patients who have the same name and are close in age. The 51-year-old patient who received the kidney was also on the transplant list, although ranked lower in priority.
A staff member recognized the mistake a day after the surgery. Marlton, N.J.-based Virtua Health, which acquired Lourdes Health System this summer, voluntary reported the error to New Jersey health officials.
“This is an unprecedented event in our respected 40-plus-year transplant program,” Reginald Blaber, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Virtua Health, said in a statement to CBS 3 Philly. “As an organization committed to safety and process, we immediately instituted additional measures and educational reinforcement to help ensure this does not happen again.”
The higher-priority patient underwent a kidney transplant Nov. 24. Both patients’ transplant surgeries were successful.
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