A two year old childis in critical condition after receiving a donated heart that arrived damaged. Panel of experts decides which boy are unable to undergo a new transplant and the mother has “already come to terms” with the idea that her son will not survive.
In a fight for survival, a two-year-old Italian boy is in critical condition after receiving a donated heart that arrived damaged. After an incalculable effort to stay alive, the child is not clinically fit to face a new transplant.
The decision was taken this Wednesday, by a panel of experts, putting an end to the possibility of the child’s survival andando a wave of indignation in Italy.
It is case is raising serious doubts about the procedures adopted in organ transplants and also about possible failures and responsibilities in the national health system Italian.
Mother has already “accepted that her son will not survive”
At the hospital door Monaldiin Naples, where the child is hospitalized, the family’s lawyer, Francesco Petruzzi, explained that “the mother has already come to terms with the idea that her son will not survive”
“She sees that he’s still alive. He hasn’t closed his eyes yet, but the best experts have said he can’t have another transplant, so she’s accepted that too.”
In a statement, the hospital from Naples clarified that he called a group of specialists from the main Italian pediatric heart transplant centers to analyze the results of most recent exams small Domenico. The hospital unit highlighted that, theafter the assessment, it was determined that the clinical condition of the child “it is not compatible with a new transplant”.
Last December the boy had received a transplant considered essential for that survived. However, the donated heart suffered damage during transport from northern Italy to Naples.
According to the family lawyer, the organ was packaged incorrectly, on dry ice instead of ice conventional, during a journey of around eight hours.
The family’s lawyer also mentioned that the family now intends to consult all medical records to understand what went wrong throughout the process. “If the time of hope has come to an end, the time of responsibility now begins”, he said.
After the case was made public, the Public Ministry Italian opened an investigationcurrently being six paramedics to be formally investigated. In the chain of possible negligence, investigators are trying to determine whether this situation could have been avoided and whether there is any responsibility. Meanwhile, inspectors visited the Monaldi hospital and will soon visit the San Maurizio hospital in Bolzano.
Prime Minister guarantees full effort to help
Meanwhile, Domenico’s mother, Patricia Mercolinorevealed that he received a call from the Italian Prime Minister, Georgie Melons, where he was assured that the Government is doing every possible effort to find a new compatible heart.
For Health Minister Horazio Schillaci, the negative opinion “represents a different outcome” than expectedbut highlighted that scientific guidelines must be followed.
“Together with the National Transplant Center, we work hard and dedicatedly to guarantee new opportunities for the child. We are next to the family and We await the test results. It is our duty to clarify the situation“.
Nonetheless, the heart was destined for one of the two patients considered compatible and suitable for transplant .
