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Family of kidney death patients push for recommended changes

Families of two transplant patients who died after being given kidneys infected with rare parasitic worms have urged the health board to make changes. Robert Stuart and Darren Hughes both died from a parasite known as halicephalobus, which lives in soil and is often found in horses. An inquest ruled that the decision to use the kidneys was correct.

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Kidney transplant tragedy 'will live with' surgeon

Surgeon Argiris Asderakis was responsible for accepting the kidneys. Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

Argiris Asderakis, the consultant transplant surgeon who was responsible for the kidney operations, has apologised for what happened.

I am very sorry that two people have lost their lives and the pain and sadness that the families continue to cope with.

I take pride in my many years working in transplantation and the people and families whose lives have been helped by the Cardiff Transplant Unit.

Their words have been a great support and I am very grateful to them. Kidney transplantation is performed to prolong the lives of patients who suffer from renal failure. Although nobody could have anticipated this tragedy it will live with me and I am deeply sorry for what happened.

– Argiris Asderakis, Consultant Surgeon at Cardiff Transplant Unit

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