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'No failure' when parasitic worm kidneys were transplanted

A surgeon made 'no failures' when he decided to use two kidneys which were infected with a parasitic worm in organ transplants for two men, a Coroner has said.

Cardiff Coroner's Court heard the organs implanted in Darren Hughes and Robert 'Jim' Stuart had been rejected by several other hospitals before they were eventually used.

The two men died shortly after their operations, with a post-mortem pointing to an infection caused by the parasitic worm Halicephalobus.

Although doctors at the time had no idea the rare parasite was present, before these cases it had only been recorded in five humans.

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Families to seek civil claims after kidney deaths

Solicitor Julie Lewis said she'd been instructed to investigation civil claims on behalf of both families.

The families of Robert 'Jim' Stuart and Darren Hughes say they feel like their accounts weren't believe and want the cases referred to the General Medical Council.

Speaking outside Cardiff Coroner's Court, solicitor Julie Lewis who represents both families, said they were grateful for the coroner's investigation but were disappointed by some of the comments he made in his verdict.

The families particularly are disappointed at the fact that he found in the doctor's favour in relation to the consent issue, bearing in mind that we thought we'd given very clear evidence of what happened on the day...

It's been an incredibly emotional experience for both families and disappointing understandably. The families feel like they weren't believed when they were giving their very truthful accounts of what happened on the day.

– Julie Lewis, family solicitor

She said she has been instructed to make referrals to the General Medical Council and also investigate civil negligence claims in the case.

Ms Lewis added that both families understand that what happened was 'incredibly rare' and people shouldn't be put off transplantation.

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