Health minister: Give me answers
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman ordered an immediate inquiry yesterday after being told patients had been given a lethal cancer by a donor’s organs.
She is demanding answers after Pauline Hunt was told her new kidney had given her cancer after another patient in Newcastle died when he was given a liver from the same donor.
The Scottish Government said: “This is a very tragic case and our deepest sympathies go to Pauline and her family. “Despite rigorous checks and tests on donated organs carried out by specialist medical staff, given the limited time available within which donation and transplantation must take place, it is unfortunately not possible to mitigate all risks that an infection could be transmitted.
“The Health secretary is seeking to ensure that all appropriate investigations are carried out into the circumstances of Pauline’s case so that any lessons that can be learned are determined, including from the review carried out by NHS Blood and Transplant.”
Miles Briggs MSP, the Conservative Scottish shadow cabinet secretary for health, said: “This is one of the most shocking cases I have ever been made aware of and a tragedy for all parties involved. “The Scottish Parliament is currently considering the Organ Donation Bill and I hope this case presents an opportunity to learn from the events which have taken place.”
Labour shadow health secretary Monica Lennon described Pauline’s case as “devastating.”
She said: “While far from being risk-free, survival rates from organ donations continue to improve and that makes Pauline’s case all the more tragic.”