Israeli Man Dies After Transplant of Incompatible Lung

A 66-year-old man died at Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, in Israel after receiving the transplant of a lung that was not compatible to his blood type.

The 27-year-old patient whose family agreed to donate his organs died at Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Tel Aviv and his two lungs were transferred to Beilinson, the only hospital in Israel that performs lung transplants.

After one of the patients on the National Transplant Center's waiting list was unable to proceed with the surgery, hospital officials said a doctor decided to call in another patient whose hospital records apparently included a mistaken blood type.

The substitute recipient was not reported to the National Transplant Center, which had the correct blood type.

A spokesman for Beilinson Hospital said a preliminary investigation revealed "the suspicion of incompatibility between the blood type of the donor of the lung and that of the recipient. The hospital extends its condolences to the family."

Beilinson Hospital and the Health Ministry announced the establishment of a committee of inquiry into the case.

Other Sources: Israeli Media