Transplant patients given cancerous organs

An investigation is under way at Royal Liverpool University hospital after two transplant patients were given kidneys from a donor with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

The patients, each of whom was initially set for live transplants from their sister, instead received organs from a woman that had died in another hospital. It later transpired that the donor had a rare disease called intravascular B-cell lymphoma. Both patients are now receiving chemotherapy treatment.

The incident, which occured last November, raises questions about guidance to patients and whether sufficient checks are made.

An investigation has been launched. James Neuberger, associate medical director at NHSBT, said the incident happened weeks before new guidance was circulated to clinicians on obtaining consent from patients and warning them of risks – including from donor-donated tumours.

The patients in the Liverpool case have notified lawyers, who are seeking legal aid.