Efforts to transplant the kidneys of a 62-year-old woman who died after receiving the wrong blood type at a hospital in Greece have ended unsuccessfully. According to the Hellenic Transplant Organization (EOM), doctors were unable to proceed with the transplants due to a last-minute discovery of a bacterial infection that compromised the viability of the organs.
The kidneys had been harvested in the early hours of Tuesday, July 8, at Tzaneio General Hospital in Piraeus, where the woman had been hospitalized. However, the presence of the infection meant they could not be safely used for transplant.
In a public statement, the transplant authority thanked the woman’s family for their “admirable intention to give life to others” and expressed condolences. The agency also praised the intensive care unit at the hospital for its cooperation during the organ retrieval effort.
Corneas Still Under Evaluation
While the kidney transplants have been canceled, further tests are being conducted on the woman’s corneas to determine whether they can still be used. The results are expected soon, according to the latest update from medical authorities.
Hospital Error Behind Fatal Blood Transfusion
The woman’s death followed a serious medical error involving a blood transfusion administered without the proper identification and safety checks. According to a report by the Health Quality Management Authority, the transfusion was carried out by a 30-year-old hospital assistant who was not supervised by a doctor or a qualified nurse, in violation of hospital protocol.
Adding to the confusion, none of the patients in the ward — including the deceased — had been issued patient ID bracelets, which typically carry essential information such as name, medical history, and reason for hospitalization. The omission was reportedly due to a broken printer in the neurology department on the fifth floor, which prevented nurses from printing and distributing the bracelets.
As a result, medical staff were unable to accurately verify patients’ identities, leading to the fatal mistake.
