Markel
03-19-2002, 07:39 AM
...of a slightly different sort.
From here (http://news.excite.com/article/id/64858|oddlyenough|03-18-2002%3A%3A08%3A07|reuters.html):
Cancer Patients in Sperm Bank Fault Scare
March 18, 2002 8:04 am EST
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 300 British couples could lose the chance of conceiving through artificial insemination after a freezer fault at a sperm bank, a Scottish hospital said on Saturday.
Edinburgh's Western General Hospital said most of those affected had stored sperm before having cancer treatment, which can leave men infertile.
"The advice we have received from an international expert is inconclusive but there is a risk that the integrity of the stored sperm could have been compromised," the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital said a fault with the liquid nitrogren supply meant temperatures in one of its sperm banks rose for up to two days and may have damaged samples.
The fault affected about 5,000 sperm samples taken from 300 men between December 1979 and July 2001 at the hospital's Urology and Haematology departments.
Most of the men went on to receive treatment for testicular cancer, leukemia, lymphoma or pituitary gland failure.
Patients will still be able to use the samples for artificial insemination, but will be offered advice on the risks involved.
The hospital said it was aware of the fault in July 2001, but decided not to release details publicly until patients were informed and an investigation had been carried out.
It said it had not yet traced some of those who may be affected by the fault.
"None of the many investigations carried out internally and externally has identified human error or negligence as the cause of the incident," the hospital said.
The hospital is working with Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the government regulatory body.
Western General Hospital is one of Scotland's leading teaching hospitals, with 550 beds and 3,500 staff.
I guess those "deposits" aren't FDIC insured? (I know, I know, it was in England so FDIC has nothing to do with it.)
From here (http://news.excite.com/article/id/64858|oddlyenough|03-18-2002%3A%3A08%3A07|reuters.html):
Cancer Patients in Sperm Bank Fault Scare
March 18, 2002 8:04 am EST
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 300 British couples could lose the chance of conceiving through artificial insemination after a freezer fault at a sperm bank, a Scottish hospital said on Saturday.
Edinburgh's Western General Hospital said most of those affected had stored sperm before having cancer treatment, which can leave men infertile.
"The advice we have received from an international expert is inconclusive but there is a risk that the integrity of the stored sperm could have been compromised," the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital said a fault with the liquid nitrogren supply meant temperatures in one of its sperm banks rose for up to two days and may have damaged samples.
The fault affected about 5,000 sperm samples taken from 300 men between December 1979 and July 2001 at the hospital's Urology and Haematology departments.
Most of the men went on to receive treatment for testicular cancer, leukemia, lymphoma or pituitary gland failure.
Patients will still be able to use the samples for artificial insemination, but will be offered advice on the risks involved.
The hospital said it was aware of the fault in July 2001, but decided not to release details publicly until patients were informed and an investigation had been carried out.
It said it had not yet traced some of those who may be affected by the fault.
"None of the many investigations carried out internally and externally has identified human error or negligence as the cause of the incident," the hospital said.
The hospital is working with Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the government regulatory body.
Western General Hospital is one of Scotland's leading teaching hospitals, with 550 beds and 3,500 staff.
I guess those "deposits" aren't FDIC insured? (I know, I know, it was in England so FDIC has nothing to do with it.)