Tissue fraud generates patient anxieties

The FDA has shut down the tissue bank in question and recommends that recipients of human tissue from that source be tested for communicable diseases.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. March 27, 2006.

Stephen Pineda, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Springfield, Ill., breathed a sigh of relief when he concluded that none of his patients received transplanted bone or tissue originating from Biomedical Tissue Services Ltd. But many physicians have not been so fortunate and are now trying to help their patients face the fallout.

The tissue bank was shut down by the Food and Drug Administration in February because of allegations that it took bone, skin and tendons from hundreds of cadavers without permission, possibly including that of former "Masterpiece Theatre" host Alistair Cooke. Cadavers also may have been too old or diseased to be considered appropriate donors under most circumstances, and tissues may have been contaminated during removal.

The company's owners have since been indicted, but the ripple effects of these activities are still being felt.

"Bone allograft is not a high-risk tissue, but this has created a new level of fear in the system," Dr. Pineda said.

He's had dozens of phone calls from those who received bone and tissue, some from years ago, asking if it came from this company and if they are at increased risk for an infectious disease. Spouses have called to find out their risk, too. He's even had patients refuse cadaver bone transplants, instead insisting on using their own bone even though this can result in more pain and longer hospitalization. Dr. Pineda's experiences are examples of the impact this scandal has had on physicians who do not have patients directly involved. For those who did, the situation is even trickier.