Iowa Transplant Staff Fired for Providing Immunosuppressive Drugs

Two nurse managers at the University of Iowa Hospital’s organ transplant program.were fired and three nurses disciplined amid allegations that they improperly provided immunosuppressive drugs to transplant recipients who needed the expensive medications.

The nurses in the hospital's kidney transplant unit allegedly reused prescription drugs from patients who died or got switched to other medications, giving the drugs to transplant patients could not afford them.

Hospital spokesman Tom Moore declined to provide details of the investigation, citing a confidentiality agreement.

But at least one patient who received the so-called recycled drugs says she was thankful for the nurses' efforts.

Simone Grace, 39, who had a pancreas transplant more than two years ago, said the nurses provided her with a couple days worth of anti-rejection medications during a gap in her Medicare and Medicaid converge that left her without drug benefits.

Grace said she wants to mobilize other transplant patients and their families in hopes of convincing hospital administrators to rehire the nurses. "These people are a godsend," Grace said. "They are a lifeline."

Other Sources: Iowa Media