Southern California’s USC University Hospital shut down its organ transplant program last month after a patient received the wrong kidney. The patient survived, possibly because the organ came from a donor with the universal blood type O, reports the “L.A. Times.” An incompatible organ can kill a patient. There was no public notice that USC Hospital’s kidney transplant program was shut down January 29th, and the hospital has not released an explanation for the error. Dr. Goran Klintman at Baylor Regional Transplant Institute in Texas said the safety procedures around organ transplants are, quote, “very substantial.” He said such a mistake is almost inconceivable. State and national officials are looking into the incident, but no findings have been reported. As of late Thursday, USC Hopsital’s website still listed kidney transplants among its services.
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