Chicago, Illinois Transplant Recipient Nightmare - 4 Contract HIV
In Chicago, Illinois four transplant recipients have contracted HIV from a high risk organ donor whose infection went undetected, according to the Chicago Tribune. The transplants occurred at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and the University of Chicago Medical Center.
The Tribune reports that an Elmhurst, Illinois based organ donor agency involved in the matter has admitted that a screening questionnaire showed that the HIV infected donor had engaged in high-risk behavior, but the agency still tested and approved the organs for donation.
Whether it was negligent for the agency to approve the organ donation after the disclosure of high risk behavior is an issue that will likely be decided in Court.
This is the first known case of HIV transmission by organ donation in the U.S. since 1985. There have been approximately 400,000 transplants since then without transmission through donated organs, according to a spokesman for the United Network for Organ Sharing.
