In August 29, 2011, there was a case related to this question in Taiwan.
The 37-year-old organ donor suffered a serious head injury due to a fall and was sent to emergency room. After he was confirmed to be brain dead, his family contacted the hopital to arrange the transplant of his organs.
A medical team removed his heart, liver, lung, and both of kidneys, then doctors checked the results of HIV tests on the organs. However, the transplant team members misheard a lab staff member saying that the HIV test result were "non-reactive" while in fact they were "reactive" and proceeded to perform four transplant procedures.
This mistake was found after the transplants had been completed and the transplant team collected the paperwork.
Five transplant patients were facing an anxious few months to find out if they have been infected with the AIDS virus. Later, each recieved an organ from the man found to have been as HIV carrier.
The hospital issued a news release saying that the mistake was due to its transplant team not following standard operating procedures or checking test results on computer before performing the operations.
They said their medical team have started relevant treatment and care including emergency anti-HIV medication for the recipients and will give the most appropriate medical care for the recipients in the future and take all responsibility.
The medical staff involved in the transplants had also started a course of anti-HIV medication.
Every hospital should draw a lesson from this incident and be more careful.
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