Transplant Tragedy

[Dianah194]

When 15-year-old young boy died suddenly last year from what doctors thought was meningitis, his parents took some solace in the fact that his organs could be used to give others new life.

His mother says organ donation is very important to the family.

His liver went to a 52-year-old man. His pancreas to a 36-year-old woman. His kidneys went to two different men, one 46 and the other 64.

A month later, an autopsy revealed that he never had meningitis. He had a rare and fast-moving lymphoma cancer -- one that was now working its way through the bodies of four other people.

The organs were removed, but the lymphoma already had killed the recipients of his liver and pancreas. The two kidney patients had the kidneys removed and survived. They're now undergoing chemotherapy.

A good deed that turned into a tragedy.

[luv_2_laugh]

That is devastating! I understand that when we put the word "Doctor" in front of someones name that doesn't make them become anymore human than those of us without a medical education. To era is human, but when we seek the diagnosis of an illness from a doctor we do expect them to know what they are doing. My heart goes out to those who have received this young boys organs. :-(