The University of Toledo Medical Center has voluntarily suspended its live donor kidney transplant services after human error recently rendered a kidney unusable during the transfer process.
"Immediately after this occurred the University voluntarily suspended our Renal Transplant Program," Dr. Jeffrey Gold, Chancellor of Bioscience and Health Affairs said.
He says two family members were going th4rough the transplant process when that mistake brought everything to a hault. Specifics about exactly what happened have not been released, but Gold says a "rare and unpredictable human error" caused the healthy organ to become unusable.
According to Gold, two, long-time transplant nurses have been placed on paid administrative leave while the cause is investigated.
"as we learn more, we are going to continue to share this," Gold says. " The hope is if we can build safety nets that it will prevent this type of thing from happening."
In a letter obtained by 13abc, UTMC says they are committed to improving the human condition by providing quality patient-centered health care, but "recently a process to achieve this failed."
The medical center has voluntarily suspended providing living kidney donor transplant services, meaning it will not perform living donor kidney recovery and kidney transplantation surgical services for live donors at this time.
The hospital will continue to evaluate potential candidates and living donors, as well as provide transplant recipient follow up care.
The letter states patients have the option of transferring their care to a different facility.
Administrators say they expect the review process to take several weeks. They plan to notify patients and donors once the hospitals review is completed.
In the meantime, the letter states they will continue to operate the university's deceased donor transplant program and all related services are fully operational.
The university says the suspension will help them evaluate and change procedures.
If you need information on the impact of the suspension on your care, call 419-383-4174.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:14 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:14:35 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
A large tornado roared through the southern part of Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma Monday afternoon. Damage is extensive. Video showed blocks of flattened homes and vehicles tossed upside down.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:11:48 GMT
Toledo Police have shut down southbound I-75 between Anthony Wayne Trail and South due to a serious accident. We're told it is a rollover crash. At least one man was seriously injured when he was ejected
I-75 remains closed between Anthony Wayne Trail and South as of 7:30 p.m. Monday evening after a serious accident.
Monday, May 20 2013 6:37 PM EDT2013-05-20 22:37:02 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Monday, May 20 2013 6:29 PM EDT2013-05-20 22:29:36 GMT
Two Toledo firefighters went to the hospital Monday morning after a fire in West Toledo. It happened in the 3600 block of Berkerly near Berdan. One was treated for a minor burn and the other for heat
Two Toledo firefighters went to the hospital Monday morning after a fire in West Toledo. It happened in the 3600 block of Berkerly near Berdan. One was treated for a minor burn and the other for heat exhaustion. 13abc is told the injured firefighters were treated returned to duty Monday.
Monday, May 20 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-20 22:10:50 GMT
A plan working its way through Columbus has local towns concerned. State lawmakers want to change how cities tax people and businesses. House Bill 5 would create a one-size-fits-all taxing system but
Perrysburg city council is considering a resolution opposing HB 5 which would give Ohio the right to create tax policy not individual towns.
Monday, May 20 2013 9:41 PM EDT2013-05-21 01:41:33 GMT
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were reported killed.
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were reported killed.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:11:48 GMT
Toledo Police have shut down southbound I-75 between Anthony Wayne Trail and South due to a serious accident. We're told it is a rollover crash. At least one man was seriously injured when he was ejected
I-75 remains closed between Anthony Wayne Trail and South as of 7:30 p.m. Monday evening after a serious accident.
Monday, May 20 2013 6:37 PM EDT2013-05-20 22:37:02 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:14 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:14:35 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
A large tornado roared through the southern part of Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma Monday afternoon. Damage is extensive. Video showed blocks of flattened homes and vehicles tossed upside down.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:41 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:41:39 GMT
The warmer weather bring out all of the bugs. Today begins the Toledo Area Sanitary District's battle with mosquitos. Both rainfall and temperature play a role in how many mosquitos we'll have this
The Toledo Area Sanitary District has started mosquito control. Monday evening marks the first day of light trapping. Biologists trap mosquitos and then study the numbers and types throughout the county. Free backyard sprays begin this week and neighborhood fogging starts in June. Log on to 13abc.com for details.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:10 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:10:08 GMT
A man was taken to the hospital Monday after a drive-by shooting. It happened in the 1200 block of Belmont. Toledo police say someone inside a black SUV opened fire on a minivan. The driver of the minivan
A man was taken to the hospital Monday after a drive-by shooting. It happened in the 1200 block of Belmont.
Monday, May 20 2013 4:28 PM EDT2013-05-20 20:28:56 GMT
"I want to make sure that we keep focused on the facts and focused on the science," says Jeff Noel, Vice President of Whirlpool Corporation. There are new details in the Clyde Cancer Cluster investigation. Whirlpool
"I want to make sure that we keep focused on the facts and focused on the science," says Jeff Noel, Vice President of Whirlpool Corporation.
Monday, May 20 2013 4:26 PM EDT2013-05-20 20:26:47 GMT
Still no arrests in a deadly home invasion in Waterville Township. A local business owner was shot multiple times in his own home. It happened Saturday. The victim and his girlfriend were home when the
Lucas County Sheriff investigators continue to look for three suspects they say are responsible for the murder of carryout owner James Safadi. He was shot and killed in his Waterville Township home.
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