Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL

[Guest guest]

Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL

35 local patients will be tested

Columbia, SC-area hospitals calling transplant recipients in to check

for diseases

Posted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005

By JOY L. WOODSON

Staff Writer

http://www.thestate.com

At least 35 patients of Columbia-area hospitals might have received

transplants of stolen human tissue.

The transplants are connected to a New York City case in which

funeral home workers took parts from dead bodies without the

families' consent.

The hospitals are calling the patients in to be tested.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended tests

for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis.

Twenty patients at Palmetto Health Richland and 12 from Palmetto

Health Baptist could have received “questionable implants during

surgery,†spokeswoman Monya Havekost said Friday.

“It's alarming and just totally out of the realm of reality,â€

Havekost said. “It's not anything we thought would ever happen.

People are shocked.â€

Providence Hospital officials said three patients could have received

questionable tissue.

“We were both surprised and concerned when we received this

notification,†Providence spokeswoman Jeanna Moffett said in a

statement.

The four processing companies and distributors named by the hospitals

are:

o New Jersey-based LifeCell Corp.

o Florida-based Tutogen Medical Inc.

o Florida-based Regeneration Technologies

o Minnesota-based Medtronic Inc.

Palmetto Health worked with all four companies. Providence only

identified Regeneration as a company of concern.

Each of these companies bought body parts from Biomedical Tissues

Services. The Food and Drug Administration has said the company might

have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease.

When the FDA made the initial October announcements, Havekost said,

“there was one product left on the shelves at (Palmetto Health

Richland), and that was, of course, pulled right away.â€

The body of broadcaster Alistair Cooke, who died of cancer last year,

has been connected to the investigation as well.

Investigators contacted Cooke's family after finding paperwork

indicating bones had been removed and sold to Biomedical Tissues

Services. The family has said that someone falsified documents,

changing his cause of death to a heart attack.

“Our understanding is that the risk to these patients is very

small,†Moffett said. “Because patient safety is always our

foremost concern, we will continue to cooperate with Regeneration

Technologies in their efforts to resolve this matter.â€

Lexington Medical Center spokesman Chuck Wendt said no one was

available to talk about whether the hospital was involved in the

case. However, he said that while the hospital uses bone tissues, it

does not perform transplants.

A Dorn Veteran's Administration Medical Center spokeswoman said the

hospital does not work with Biomedical Tissue Services and was not

notified of any problems.

Efforts to reach officials at Fort 's Montcrief Hospital were

unsuccessful.

It was unclear whether area hospitals would seek legal action against

any of the companies.

“Right now, the only concern is patients ... and reassuring them

that there's just a small percentage of a chance that anyone would

have a negative outcome,†said Havekost, who added that the

patients would not have to be screened for cancer.

According to the FDA, affected tissue could have been implanted in

patients between early 2004 and September 2005. The implicated

tissues from Biomedical Tissue Services include human bone, skin and

tendons.

An FDA spokeswoman said Friday the agency would not comment further

on the investigation.

The Associated Press contributed.

[Guest guest]

Pretty scary. I live in the ton, SC area and they identified at least one person here as a recipient. Kathyelizabethnv1 wrote: Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL 35 local patients will be tested Columbia, SC-area hospitals calling transplant recipients in to check for diseases Posted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005 By JOY L. WOODSON Staff Writer http://www.thestate.com At least 35 patients of Columbia-area hospitals might have received transplants of stolen human tissue. The transplants are connected to a New York City case in which funeral home workers took parts from dead bodies without the families' consent. The hospitals are calling the patients

in to be tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis. Twenty patients at Palmetto Health Richland and 12 from Palmetto Health Baptist could have received “questionable implants during surgery,†spokeswoman Monya Havekost said Friday. “It's alarming and just totally out of the realm of reality,†Havekost said. “It's not anything we thought would ever happen. People are shocked.†Providence Hospital officials said three patients could have received questionable tissue. “We were both surprised and concerned when we received this notification,†Providence spokeswoman Jeanna Moffett said in a statement. The four processing companies and distributors named by the hospitals are: o New Jersey-based LifeCell Corp. o Florida-based Tutogen Medical

Inc. o Florida-based Regeneration Technologies o Minnesota-based Medtronic Inc. Palmetto Health worked with all four companies. Providence only identified Regeneration as a company of concern. Each of these companies bought body parts from Biomedical Tissues Services. The Food and Drug Administration has said the company might have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease. When the FDA made the initial October announcements, Havekost said, “there was one product left on the shelves at (Palmetto Health Richland), and that was, of course, pulled right away.†The body of broadcaster Alistair Cooke, who died of cancer last year, has been connected to the investigation as well. Investigators contacted Cooke's family after finding paperwork indicating bones had been removed and sold to Biomedical Tissues Services. The family has said that someone

falsified documents, changing his cause of death to a heart attack. “Our understanding is that the risk to these patients is very small,†Moffett said. “Because patient safety is always our foremost concern, we will continue to cooperate with Regeneration Technologies in their efforts to resolve this matter.†Lexington Medical Center spokesman Chuck Wendt said no one was available to talk about whether the hospital was involved in the case. However, he said that while the hospital uses bone tissues, it does not perform transplants. A Dorn Veteran's Administration Medical Center spokeswoman said the hospital does not work with Biomedical Tissue Services and was not notified of any problems. Efforts to reach officials at Fort 's Montcrief Hospital were unsuccessful. It was unclear whether area hospitals would seek legal action against any of the

companies. “Right now, the only concern is patients ... and reassuring them that there's just a small percentage of a chance that anyone would have a negative outcome,†said Havekost, who added that the patients would not have to be screened for cancer. According to the FDA, affected tissue could have been implanted in patients between early 2004 and September 2005. The implicated tissues from Biomedical Tissue Services include human bone, skin and tendons. An FDA spokeswoman said Friday the agency would not comment further on the investigation. The Associated Press contributed.

[Guest guest]

Pretty scary. I live in the ton, SC area and they identified at least one person here as a recipient. Kathyelizabethnv1 wrote: Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL 35 local patients will be tested Columbia, SC-area hospitals calling transplant recipients in to check for diseases Posted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005 By JOY L. WOODSON Staff Writer http://www.thestate.com At least 35 patients of Columbia-area hospitals might have received transplants of stolen human tissue. The transplants are connected to a New York City case in which funeral home workers took parts from dead bodies without the families' consent. The hospitals are calling the patients

in to be tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis. Twenty patients at Palmetto Health Richland and 12 from Palmetto Health Baptist could have received “questionable implants during surgery,†spokeswoman Monya Havekost said Friday. “It's alarming and just totally out of the realm of reality,†Havekost said. “It's not anything we thought would ever happen. People are shocked.†Providence Hospital officials said three patients could have received questionable tissue. “We were both surprised and concerned when we received this notification,†Providence spokeswoman Jeanna Moffett said in a statement. The four processing companies and distributors named by the hospitals are: o New Jersey-based LifeCell Corp. o Florida-based Tutogen Medical

Inc. o Florida-based Regeneration Technologies o Minnesota-based Medtronic Inc. Palmetto Health worked with all four companies. Providence only identified Regeneration as a company of concern. Each of these companies bought body parts from Biomedical Tissues Services. The Food and Drug Administration has said the company might have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease. When the FDA made the initial October announcements, Havekost said, “there was one product left on the shelves at (Palmetto Health Richland), and that was, of course, pulled right away.†The body of broadcaster Alistair Cooke, who died of cancer last year, has been connected to the investigation as well. Investigators contacted Cooke's family after finding paperwork indicating bones had been removed and sold to Biomedical Tissues Services. The family has said that someone

falsified documents, changing his cause of death to a heart attack. “Our understanding is that the risk to these patients is very small,†Moffett said. “Because patient safety is always our foremost concern, we will continue to cooperate with Regeneration Technologies in their efforts to resolve this matter.†Lexington Medical Center spokesman Chuck Wendt said no one was available to talk about whether the hospital was involved in the case. However, he said that while the hospital uses bone tissues, it does not perform transplants. A Dorn Veteran's Administration Medical Center spokeswoman said the hospital does not work with Biomedical Tissue Services and was not notified of any problems. Efforts to reach officials at Fort 's Montcrief Hospital were unsuccessful. It was unclear whether area hospitals would seek legal action against any of the

companies. “Right now, the only concern is patients ... and reassuring them that there's just a small percentage of a chance that anyone would have a negative outcome,†said Havekost, who added that the patients would not have to be screened for cancer. According to the FDA, affected tissue could have been implanted in patients between early 2004 and September 2005. The implicated tissues from Biomedical Tissue Services include human bone, skin and tendons. An FDA spokeswoman said Friday the agency would not comment further on the investigation. The Associated Press contributed.

[Guest guest]

Pretty scary. I live in the ton, SC area and they identified at least one person here as a recipient. Kathyelizabethnv1 wrote: Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL 35 local patients will be tested Columbia, SC-area hospitals calling transplant recipients in to check for diseases Posted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005 By JOY L. WOODSON Staff Writer http://www.thestate.com At least 35 patients of Columbia-area hospitals might have received transplants of stolen human tissue. The transplants are connected to a New York City case in which funeral home workers took parts from dead bodies without the families' consent. The hospitals are calling the patients

in to be tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis. Twenty patients at Palmetto Health Richland and 12 from Palmetto Health Baptist could have received “questionable implants during surgery,†spokeswoman Monya Havekost said Friday. “It's alarming and just totally out of the realm of reality,†Havekost said. “It's not anything we thought would ever happen. People are shocked.†Providence Hospital officials said three patients could have received questionable tissue. “We were both surprised and concerned when we received this notification,†Providence spokeswoman Jeanna Moffett said in a statement. The four processing companies and distributors named by the hospitals are: o New Jersey-based LifeCell Corp. o Florida-based Tutogen Medical

Inc. o Florida-based Regeneration Technologies o Minnesota-based Medtronic Inc. Palmetto Health worked with all four companies. Providence only identified Regeneration as a company of concern. Each of these companies bought body parts from Biomedical Tissues Services. The Food and Drug Administration has said the company might have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease. When the FDA made the initial October announcements, Havekost said, “there was one product left on the shelves at (Palmetto Health Richland), and that was, of course, pulled right away.†The body of broadcaster Alistair Cooke, who died of cancer last year, has been connected to the investigation as well. Investigators contacted Cooke's family after finding paperwork indicating bones had been removed and sold to Biomedical Tissues Services. The family has said that someone

falsified documents, changing his cause of death to a heart attack. “Our understanding is that the risk to these patients is very small,†Moffett said. “Because patient safety is always our foremost concern, we will continue to cooperate with Regeneration Technologies in their efforts to resolve this matter.†Lexington Medical Center spokesman Chuck Wendt said no one was available to talk about whether the hospital was involved in the case. However, he said that while the hospital uses bone tissues, it does not perform transplants. A Dorn Veteran's Administration Medical Center spokeswoman said the hospital does not work with Biomedical Tissue Services and was not notified of any problems. Efforts to reach officials at Fort 's Montcrief Hospital were unsuccessful. It was unclear whether area hospitals would seek legal action against any of the

companies. “Right now, the only concern is patients ... and reassuring them that there's just a small percentage of a chance that anyone would have a negative outcome,†said Havekost, who added that the patients would not have to be screened for cancer. According to the FDA, affected tissue could have been implanted in patients between early 2004 and September 2005. The implicated tissues from Biomedical Tissue Services include human bone, skin and tendons. An FDA spokeswoman said Friday the agency would not comment further on the investigation. The Associated Press contributed.

[Guest guest]

OMGoodness , that is scarey

Re: Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL

Pretty scary. I live in the ton, SC area and they identified at least one person here as a recipient. Kathyelizabethnv1 wrote:

Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL35 local patients will be testedColumbia, SC-area hospitals calling transplant recipients in to check for diseasesPosted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005By JOY L. WOODSONStaff Writerhttp://www.thestate.comAt least 35 patients of Columbia-area hospitals might have received transplants of stolen human tissue.The transplants are connected to a New York City case in which funeral home workers took parts from dead bodies without the families' consent.The hospitals are calling the patients in to be tested.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis.Twenty patients at Palmetto Health Richland and 12 from Palmetto Health Baptist could have received “questionable implants during surgery,†spokeswoman Monya Havekost said Friday.“It's alarming and just totally out of the realm of reality,†Havekost said. “It's not anything we thought would ever happen. People are shocked.â€Providence Hospital officials said three patients could have received questionable tissue.“We were both surprised and concerned when we received this notification,†Providence spokeswoman Jeanna Moffett said in a statement.The four processing companies and distributors named by the hospitals are:o New Jersey-based LifeCell Corp.o Florida-based Tutogen Medical Inc.o Florida-based Regeneration Technologieso Minnesota-based Medtronic Inc.Palmetto Health worked with all four companies. Providence only identified Regeneration as a company of concern.Each of these companies bought body parts from Biomedical Tissues Services. The Food and Drug Administration has said the company might have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease.When the FDA made the initial October announcements, Havekost said, “there was one product left on the shelves at (Palmetto Health Richland), and that was, of course, pulled right away.â€The body of broadcaster Alistair Cooke, who died of cancer last year, has been connected to the investigation as well.Investigators contacted Cooke's family after finding paperwork indicating bones had been removed and sold to Biomedical Tissues Services. The family has said that someone falsified documents, changing his cause of death to a heart attack.“Our understanding is that the risk to these patients is very small,†Moffett said. “Because patient safety is always our foremost concern, we will continue to cooperate with Regeneration Technologies in their efforts to resolve this matter.â€Lexington Medical Center spokesman Chuck Wendt said no one was available to talk about whether the hospital was involved in the case. However, he said that while the hospital uses bone tissues, it does not perform transplants.A Dorn Veteran's Administration Medical Center spokeswoman said the hospital does not work with Biomedical Tissue Services and was not notified of any problems.Efforts to reach officials at Fort 's Montcrief Hospital were unsuccessful.It was unclear whether area hospitals would seek legal action against any of the companies.“Right now, the only concern is patients ... and reassuring them that there's just a small percentage of a chance that anyone would have a negative outcome,†said Havekost, who added that the patients would not have to be screened for cancer.According to the FDA, affected tissue could have been implanted in patients between early 2004 and September 2005. The implicated tissues from Biomedical Tissue Services include human bone, skin and tendons.An FDA spokeswoman said Friday the agency would not comment further on the investigation.The Associated Press contributed.

[Guest guest]

OMGoodness , that is scarey

Re: Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL

Pretty scary. I live in the ton, SC area and they identified at least one person here as a recipient. Kathyelizabethnv1 wrote:

Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL35 local patients will be testedColumbia, SC-area hospitals calling transplant recipients in to check for diseasesPosted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005By JOY L. WOODSONStaff Writerhttp://www.thestate.comAt least 35 patients of Columbia-area hospitals might have received transplants of stolen human tissue.The transplants are connected to a New York City case in which funeral home workers took parts from dead bodies without the families' consent.The hospitals are calling the patients in to be tested.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis.Twenty patients at Palmetto Health Richland and 12 from Palmetto Health Baptist could have received “questionable implants during surgery,†spokeswoman Monya Havekost said Friday.“It's alarming and just totally out of the realm of reality,†Havekost said. “It's not anything we thought would ever happen. People are shocked.â€Providence Hospital officials said three patients could have received questionable tissue.“We were both surprised and concerned when we received this notification,†Providence spokeswoman Jeanna Moffett said in a statement.The four processing companies and distributors named by the hospitals are:o New Jersey-based LifeCell Corp.o Florida-based Tutogen Medical Inc.o Florida-based Regeneration Technologieso Minnesota-based Medtronic Inc.Palmetto Health worked with all four companies. Providence only identified Regeneration as a company of concern.Each of these companies bought body parts from Biomedical Tissues Services. The Food and Drug Administration has said the company might have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease.When the FDA made the initial October announcements, Havekost said, “there was one product left on the shelves at (Palmetto Health Richland), and that was, of course, pulled right away.â€The body of broadcaster Alistair Cooke, who died of cancer last year, has been connected to the investigation as well.Investigators contacted Cooke's family after finding paperwork indicating bones had been removed and sold to Biomedical Tissues Services. The family has said that someone falsified documents, changing his cause of death to a heart attack.“Our understanding is that the risk to these patients is very small,†Moffett said. “Because patient safety is always our foremost concern, we will continue to cooperate with Regeneration Technologies in their efforts to resolve this matter.â€Lexington Medical Center spokesman Chuck Wendt said no one was available to talk about whether the hospital was involved in the case. However, he said that while the hospital uses bone tissues, it does not perform transplants.A Dorn Veteran's Administration Medical Center spokeswoman said the hospital does not work with Biomedical Tissue Services and was not notified of any problems.Efforts to reach officials at Fort 's Montcrief Hospital were unsuccessful.It was unclear whether area hospitals would seek legal action against any of the companies.“Right now, the only concern is patients ... and reassuring them that there's just a small percentage of a chance that anyone would have a negative outcome,†said Havekost, who added that the patients would not have to be screened for cancer.According to the FDA, affected tissue could have been implanted in patients between early 2004 and September 2005. The implicated tissues from Biomedical Tissue Services include human bone, skin and tendons.An FDA spokeswoman said Friday the agency would not comment further on the investigation.The Associated Press contributed.

[Guest guest]

OMGoodness , that is scarey

Re: Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL

Pretty scary. I live in the ton, SC area and they identified at least one person here as a recipient. Kathyelizabethnv1 wrote:

Transplant/BODY PARTS SCANDAL35 local patients will be testedColumbia, SC-area hospitals calling transplant recipients in to check for diseasesPosted on Sat, Dec. 31, 2005By JOY L. WOODSONStaff Writerhttp://www.thestate.comAt least 35 patients of Columbia-area hospitals might have received transplants of stolen human tissue.The transplants are connected to a New York City case in which funeral home workers took parts from dead bodies without the families' consent.The hospitals are calling the patients in to be tested.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis.Twenty patients at Palmetto Health Richland and 12 from Palmetto Health Baptist could have received “questionable implants during surgery,†spokeswoman Monya Havekost said Friday.“It's alarming and just totally out of the realm of reality,†Havekost said. “It's not anything we thought would ever happen. People are shocked.â€Providence Hospital officials said three patients could have received questionable tissue.“We were both surprised and concerned when we received this notification,†Providence spokeswoman Jeanna Moffett said in a statement.The four processing companies and distributors named by the hospitals are:o New Jersey-based LifeCell Corp.o Florida-based Tutogen Medical Inc.o Florida-based Regeneration Technologieso Minnesota-based Medtronic Inc.Palmetto Health worked with all four companies. Providence only identified Regeneration as a company of concern.Each of these companies bought body parts from Biomedical Tissues Services. The Food and Drug Administration has said the company might have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease.When the FDA made the initial October announcements, Havekost said, “there was one product left on the shelves at (Palmetto Health Richland), and that was, of course, pulled right away.â€The body of broadcaster Alistair Cooke, who died of cancer last year, has been connected to the investigation as well.Investigators contacted Cooke's family after finding paperwork indicating bones had been removed and sold to Biomedical Tissues Services. The family has said that someone falsified documents, changing his cause of death to a heart attack.“Our understanding is that the risk to these patients is very small,†Moffett said. “Because patient safety is always our foremost concern, we will continue to cooperate with Regeneration Technologies in their efforts to resolve this matter.â€Lexington Medical Center spokesman Chuck Wendt said no one was available to talk about whether the hospital was involved in the case. However, he said that while the hospital uses bone tissues, it does not perform transplants.A Dorn Veteran's Administration Medical Center spokeswoman said the hospital does not work with Biomedical Tissue Services and was not notified of any problems.Efforts to reach officials at Fort 's Montcrief Hospital were unsuccessful.It was unclear whether area hospitals would seek legal action against any of the companies.“Right now, the only concern is patients ... and reassuring them that there's just a small percentage of a chance that anyone would have a negative outcome,†said Havekost, who added that the patients would not have to be screened for cancer.According to the FDA, affected tissue could have been implanted in patients between early 2004 and September 2005. The implicated tissues from Biomedical Tissue Services include human bone, skin and tendons.An FDA spokeswoman said Friday the agency would not comment further on the investigation.The Associated Press contributed.