Kaiser Kidney Donor List

Kaiser Kidney Doner List

Kaiser Permanente’s kidney transplant program has become the target of several investigations that allege it caused patients to suffer adversely due to severe mismanagement.  In 2004 the HMO decided to create a universal kidney transplant list for its patients in Northern California, but in doing so it failed to appropriately transfer the ranking of people waiting for kidneys from the old list to the new.  This resulted in some people being placed lower on the universal list than they would have had they not been transferred, and even caused some people to disappear from the list entirely. 

People on kidney transplant lists are ranked down to the 10th of a second; that is to say when someone enters the list their exact position can dictate whether or not they are eligible before someone else.  Therefore it is critical that these lists are meticulously monitored for any impropriety that could prevent the most deserving patient from getting the organ they need.  For the nation’s largest HMO to commit an error of this magnitude is absolutely inexcusable, and their alleged lack of planning and management could have cost untold numbers people their health or even their lives. 

Further damaging Kaiser’s credibility is the fact that David Merlin, former head of the kidney transplant unit for the HMO, is suing the company for wrongful discharge due to his constant complaints about the mismanagement of the program.  In his words, Kaiser’s "program was so poorly organized and unprofessionally managed that it failed to comply with state and federal requirements and was compromising patient care, leading to unnecessary suffering and possibly deaths."  California HMO regulators eventually had to step in to oversee the program because of numerous patient reports of delayed transplants caused by poor communication, misplaced paperwork, or incompatible rankings on transplant lists.

Kaiser Permanente allegedly failed to judiciously regulate their kidney transplant program which may have resulted in the serious injury or death of untold numbers of innocent people.  If your kidney transplant was delayed due to the alleged mismanagement of the Kaiser program, and you physically suffered because of it, you may be entitled to take legal action to claim compensation for your pain and suffering.  Our experienced and dedicated attorneys are ready to help you get the justice you deserve.  Contact us today.

Updated 8/31/06

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