A Cleveland hospital has acknowledged that a patient received a new kidney that was meant for someone else.
The kidney given to the wrong patient is compatible, and the person is expected to recover, according to officials at University Hospitals in Cleveland, who apologized for the mistake and said two employees have been placed on administrative leave.
The other patient’s surgery has been delayed.
Hospital officials said they are reviewing how the error occurred to prevent similar mistakes and have notified the United Network for Organ Sharing, which manages the national transplant system.
“We have offered our sincerest apologies to these patients and their families,” hospital spokesperson George Stamatis said in a written statement. “We recognize they entrusted us with their care. The situation is entirely inconsistent with our commitment to helping patients return to health and live life to the fullest.”
Stamatis declined to comment further.
