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Kidney deaths inquest: No criticism over transplant deaths Kidney deaths inquest: No criticism over transplant deaths
(34 minutes later)
The surgeon who gave two transplant patients kidneys which were later found to be infected with parasitic worms, cannot be criticised for accepting the organs, a coroner said.The surgeon who gave two transplant patients kidneys which were later found to be infected with parasitic worms, cannot be criticised for accepting the organs, a coroner said.
Robert "Jim" Stuart, 67, and Darren Hughes, 42, were given kidneys infected with meningitis-causing worms in 2013.Robert "Jim" Stuart, 67, and Darren Hughes, 42, were given kidneys infected with meningitis-causing worms in 2013.
Both died following the operations at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales.Both died following the operations at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales.
Assistant Coroner Christopher Woolley gave a narrative conclusion at the end of their inquests. After the hearing, a solicitor for their families said they were investigating civil negligence claims.
He ruled that both died due to the unintended consequences of necessary medical intervention Assistant Coroner Christopher Woolley gave a narrative conclusion at the end of their inquests on Thursday.
And he said there was no failure in the decision of surgeon Argiris Asderakis to accept the kidneys because he had looked at the "relevant facts". He ruled that both died due to the unintended consequences of necessary medical intervention.
The inquest at Cardiff Coroner's Court heard on Wednesday that one expert had rejected the donor organs. Mr Woolley said there was no failure in the decision of surgeon Argiris Asderakis to accept the kidneys because he had looked at the "relevant facts".
But Prof Christopher Watson said no-one could have foreseen the outcome. During the inquest it emerged the kidneys had been declined by others but the coroner said it was not unusual for one hospital to accept organs after they have been refused elsewhere.
Speaking outside Cardiff Coroner's Court, solicitor Julie Lewis said patients have to be more involved in decision-making, and they have to understand the risks and benefits.
"The families are very keen to get across to the public that the underlying issue here is this was an incredibly rare experience. People shouldn't be put off transplantation," she added.
The inquest heard on Wednesday that one expert had rejected the donor organs.
But Prof Christopher Watson said no one could have foreseen the outcome.
The Cambridge professor was part of a three-person panel asked to review the case, and he told the inquest he would not have used the organs, whose donor was known to have died from meningitis.The Cambridge professor was part of a three-person panel asked to review the case, and he told the inquest he would not have used the organs, whose donor was known to have died from meningitis.
"I declined it on the night when contacted by my colleague," said Prof Watson, from the University of Cambridge's department of surgery."I declined it on the night when contacted by my colleague," said Prof Watson, from the University of Cambridge's department of surgery.
Opportunity to refuse
But the expert added that the parasitic infection was incredibly rare.But the expert added that the parasitic infection was incredibly rare.
"I doubt we'll ever see this again. No-one could have foreseen that," he said."I doubt we'll ever see this again. No-one could have foreseen that," he said.
Mr Stuart, 67, and Mr Hughes, 42, died of meningitis two weeks after receiving the transplants.Mr Stuart, 67, and Mr Hughes, 42, died of meningitis two weeks after receiving the transplants.
The cause was only established once post-mortem examinations were carried out on Mr Hughes' and Mr Stuart's bodies.The cause was only established once post-mortem examinations were carried out on Mr Hughes' and Mr Stuart's bodies.
During evidence on Tuesday, the court heard that both patients had been told the donor had meningitis when he died, despite claims made by relatives earlier in the hearing stating the opposite. The inquest previously heard both patients had been told the donor had meningitis when he died, something relatives of the men disputed.
Usman Khalid, a clinical research fellow from Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales who was part of the transplant team, said both men had the opportunity to refuse the operations.
Mr Stuart's widow Judith challenged Mr Khalid's evidence from the courtroom floor, asking him to "tell the truth".
"I have," he replied.
Halicephalobus parasiteHalicephalobus parasite