HIV Donor's Organs Transplanted Into Patients

A hospital in Taiwan has apologised after organs from an HIV positive donor were transplanted into five patients in a case described as "appalling negligence".

The five are now being treated with anti-viral drugs but experts say it is very likely they will contract HIV.

And their treatment will be further complicated due to the fact they must take medication to stop their new organs being rejected.

There are also concerns among the medics who performed the operations that they may have also contracted HIV.

The family of the 37-year-old donor, surnamed Chiu, chose to donate his organs after he fell to his death in northern Hsinchu city last week.

But the relatives said they were not aware that he was an HIV carrier.

Chiu went into a coma on August 24 and his liver, lungs two kidneys and heart were transplanted to five patients on the same day.

Four of the transplants took place at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) in Taipei, while the heart operation was carried out at another hospital.

Medical staff performing standard blood tests found Chiu was HIV positive before his liver, lungs and kidneys were transplanted.

But the message was wrongly relayed and doctors were given the green light for the operations.

The hospital said the mistake occurred because a worker believed he heard the word "non-reactive" on the donor's standard HIV test, which means negative, while the word "reactive" was actually given.

The hospital added the information on the test result was given over the phone and was not double-checked, as required by standard operating procedures.

"We deeply apologise for the mistake," the hospital said.

Yao Ke-wu, a health official in Hsinchu city, where Chiu lived, criticised the transplants as "appalling negligence".

He said medics could have avoided the mistake by asking his department about the donor's medical history in advance, and deplored that such inquiries were not compulsory in Taiwan.

Health authorities have launched an investigation and reports said the staff who were responsible, if found guilty, may face being jailed for up to 10 years.

And the NTUH may be barred from doing similar operations for a year.