Latest news with #dialysis
Arab News
15 hours ago
- Health
- Arab News
Nearly 41% of kidney patients died in Gaza as Israel destroys major dialysis center
LONDON: Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip revealed on Sunday that nearly half of the kidney failure patients in the coastal enclave have died since October 2023 amid ongoing Israeli attacks and restrictions on humanitarian and medical aid. Israeli attacks on hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza barred 41 percent of kidney patients from accessing life-saving dialysis treatment, resulting in their deaths, according to the Wafa news agency. On Saturday, Israeli forces destroyed the Noura Al-Kaabi Dialysis Center in northern Gaza, one of the few specialized facilities providing kidney dialysis to 160 patients. Video footage appears to show Israeli military excavators completely demolishing the facility that was partly damaged amid the war and remained standing among the heavily ruined area of Beit Lahiya. 'The destruction of this center is a catastrophic blow to the health system,' a Palestinian medical source told Wafa, warning of dire consequences for the remaining kidney patients in Gaza. 'This is a disaster with consequences we cannot yet fully comprehend,' they added.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Teen gets first-of-its-kind kidney transplant thanks to late uncle
For 14-year-old Mario Futia, life was never normal — until a first-of-its-kind kidney transplant from his late uncle gave him a second chance. 'It was difficult, in one way, because you have to somewhat pray for someone to pass to give something to you,' Futia said in a recent interview. 'But on the other hand, it was a bittersweet feeling, because at least some part, at the end of the surgery, will be part of you afterwards.' In December, Futia's uncle suffered a heart attack and slipped into a coma. His son, Alexandre Rainone, Futia's cousin, decided to donate his father's kidney to the teen, so doctors kept the man on life support until the transplant took place in January. 'It was very hard, because now I'm in between my father's death and saving my cousin's life,' Rainone said. The LaSalle teen has been a patient at the Montreal Children's Hospital since he was born with kidney failure. He received his first transplant at just two years old, but his body rejected it, and he developed antibodies against all kidney donors in Canada. So, for the past 12 years, Futia has been on dialysis three times a week, four to five hours at a time, whether it's a school day, weekend, or holiday. He said it took a toll. Dr. Mallory Downie, a pediatric nephrologist at the hospital, explained that once doctors became aware of a potential donor match, one his body was less likely to reject, they developed a new desensitization protocol for him. 'Which means we were able to decrease the antibodies he had towards that kidney and finally accept that kidney. We were able to transplant Mario with the first desensitized kidney transplant in Canada,' Downie said. Downie acknowledged there was a lot of uncertainty with this rare and exceptional case and that it required a leap of faith and trust in the system and experts in the field. 'We worked with experts from the United States, our colleagues here at McGill University Health Centre, and relied on many, many experts to guide us in how to do this,' she added. Futia's dad, Giuseppe, said that he was thankful for his son's second chance at living a normal life. Although the teen will have to go back to the hospital for regular checkups, it's nothing compared to the burden of dialysis. '[This transplant is] a second attempt for a new lease on life,' the teen said. With files from Swidda Rassy
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Global Initiative Launched To Protect Kidney Patients During Crises and Emergencies
May 22, 2025 /3BL/ - An international alliance of humanitarian and medical organizations is announcing the launch of a new initiative to protect kidney and dialysis patients in crisis settings around the world. The Global Humanitarian Kidney Support Initiative—a collaboration among Direct Relief, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the European Renal Association (ERA), and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN)—aims to ensure continuity of care for people with serious kidney conditions during disasters, conflicts, and in regions where access to essential health services is limited. The initiative brings together global clinical expertise in nephrology with on-the-ground experience in humanitarian logistics to help sustain kidney care when health systems are disrupted or overwhelmed. Kidney patients—particularly those receiving dialysis or post-transplant care requiring essential medications—are especially vulnerable in emergencies. Regular access to treatment is essential for survival, and any interruption can quickly become life-threatening. The initiative seeks to address that risk through coordinated action, including emergency support for clinics and hospitals, provision of essential medicines and supplies, and training for healthcare workers operating under strained conditions. 'Kidney patients rely on consistent, life-sustaining treatment, which can be difficult to maintain when disaster strikes,' said Alycia Clark, Chief Pharmacist at Direct Relief. 'This collaboration helps ensure continuity of care by equipping health facilities with the products, training, and coordination required to deliver treatment safely and effectively—even under the most challenging conditions.' The partner organizations have previously worked together during major emergencies in the United States, Ukraine, Sudan, and other regions. The launch of this initiative builds on those efforts and establishes a formal structure to improve speed, coordination, and scale in future responses. 'This initiative reflects how much more can be accomplished when organizations combine strengths with a shared commitment to meeting urgent medical needs,' said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief. 'By uniting nephrology leaders with expertise in humanitarian operations, this collaboration creates a clear path for delivering kidney care where it's most at risk of falling through the cracks.' In addition to emergency response, the Global Humanitarian Kidney Support Initiative aims to contribute to long-term improvements in care by strengthening infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries, expanding clinical education, and advancing patient awareness and disease prevention strategies. Direct Relief will manage medical supply logistics and operational support, while ASN, ERA, and ISN will lead regional efforts through their professional networks and national society partners. 'ASN is thrilled to be part of this new collaboration with ERA, ISN and Direct Relief. Together, we will be able to provide support to patients and their caregivers in regions impacted by both natural and human-influenced events and stretch each organization's resources further. The support of corporate and foundation sponsors will be instrumental in ensuring that people living with kidney diseases have the best chance to thrive even in extreme circumstances', said Jeffrey Silberzweig, MD, Chair, ASN's Humanitarian Kidney Support Program 'Patients with kidney diseases represent one of the most vulnerable groups in disaster settings since their survival depends on functional infrastructure, access to advanced technology and experienced personnel within days (if not hours),' said Professor Mehmet Şükrü Sever, Chair of ERA's Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force. The Global Humanitarian Kidney Support Initiative can contribute to life-saving efforts by promoting clinical education, enhancing patient awareness and disease prevention strategies and delivering material support when most needed. 'Kidney patients in many parts of the world already have fragile access to care. When disaster strikes, the risk of interruption or disruption of needed care becomes rapidly acute. This initiative strengthens collaboration between professional renal societies and humanitarian organizations, allowing the ISN to contribute its expertise and help connect local providers with urgently needed support', stated Prof. Ali Abu-Alfa, Chair, ISN Renal Disaster Preparedness Working Group. Looking ahead, the initiative aims to expand its reach and impact by engaging pharmaceutical and medical device companies, philanthropic foundations, and global health partners to close critical gaps in care and strengthen long-term support for people living with kidney disease—especially in regions where treatment access remains fragile. ### About ASN Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has nearly 22,000 members representing 141 countries. For more information, visit and follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram About Direct Relief A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources to communities in need around the world—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. The organization holds NABP Drug Distributor Accreditation and is licensed to distribute prescription medications in all 50 U.S. states. In 2025, Direct Relief received the Seoul Peace Prize in recognition of its global humanitarian impact and effectiveness. For more information, please visit About ERA With more than 28,000 members, the ERA (European Renal Association) is one of the largest and most prestigious nephrology associations worldwide. It supports basic and clinical research in clinical nephrology, dialysis, renal transplantation, and related subjects, dedicated to advancing kidney health through science, education, and networking. Founded in 1963, ERA serves as a leading platform for scientific exchange, professional development, and advocacy in the field of nephrology across Europe and beyond. ERA organises annual congresses, supports fellowships and CME courses, and publishes two leading nephrology journals in Europe: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation and Clinical Kidney Journal (open access). For more information, please visit About ISN The International Society of Nephrology, established in 1960, is a global professional medical association committed to advancing kidney health worldwide through education, grants, research, and advocacy. By collaborating with its members and affiliated national and regional societies, the ISN engages with 30,000 health professionals worldwide to help reduce the burden of kidney diseases and provide optimal health care for patients globally. For more information, please visit Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Direct Relief
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I went for routine surgery and doctors removed the wrong organ... now I require lifelong care
A woman is suing a Minnesota hospital after surgeons allegedly mistakenly removed her healthy kidney during an operation intended to take out her spleen. Wendy Rappaport, 84, now requires dialysis and has been diagnosed with the most severe form of kidney disease because without both functioning kidneys, her body can no longer properly filter waste and excess fluid from her blood. This puts her at risk of life-threatening complications and organ failure, potentially killing her in a matter of years. Rappaport was admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in March 2022 to have her spleen removed due to a ruptured abscess that could cause a severe infection if not treated. Spleen removal surgery is typically a routine, safe, and common procedure often done through small incisions that improve recovery time. But given its close proximity to the kidneys, a precise hand is key. But during the surgery, doctors instead removed her left kidney, leaving the infected body part behind. Doctors did not realize their mistake until taking a CT scan while Rappaport was recovering in the hospital. The scan revealed a space where her kidney should have been, and remaining infected spleen tissue. Rappaport was confined to a hospital bed for two months with stage 5 kidney disease and infection in her spleen. Rappaport was forced to undergo dialysis treatments. For about four hours three times a week, kidney disease patients have to be hooked up to a machine that cycles through the blood removing toxins, a job that failing kidneys cannot do. Rappaport, who has filed a lawsuit against the hospital and her surgeon, Dr Devon Callahan, says the mistake has left her with life-threatening kidney disease and permanent health problems. Her kidney function has sharply declined since the surgery. Medical records show her creatinine levels, a key marker of kidney health, rose from 0.88 before surgery to 3.29 six weeks later — a sign the kidney was failing to properly filter waste from her blood. The lawsuit is alleging medical malpractice and medical battery, accusing Dr Callahn of breaching his duty of care and inflicting permanent damage on Rappaport. Dr Callahan has not publicly commented on the case. Still, Allina Health, which owns the hospital, said the court filings 'don't accurately reflect the full picture of the patient's condition or the life-saving medical care provided.' The hospital said its team provided 'life-saving care,' but medical records show that three days before surgery, Rappaport's kidneys looked normal, with no signs of problems that would require removal. Dr Callahan's notes after surgery said he removed the spleen intact. However, a CT scan later showed her left kidney had been taken out instead, and some spleen tissue was still inside her. A surgeon from the University of Iowa, Dr Isaac Samuel, reviewed Rappaport's records and said this was a medical mistake caused by negligence. He said that Dr Callahan didn't follow standard medical practice and didn't do his job properly, which led to Rappaport's kidney injury and made her existing kidney problems worse. Because of this, she needed more treatment and had to pay a mountain of extra medical bills. Removing the spleen is a fairly common surgery done about 22,000 times a year. The organ sits under the ribs on the upper left side of the belly, just above the kidney, separated by a thin layer of tissue. Doctors remove it for reasons like injury, blood disorders, tumors, or cysts. People can live normally without a spleen. While it plays a role in immune function and blood filtration, other organs like the liver and lymph nodes can compensate for most of its duties after removal. But losing a kidney can cause lifelong problems. The remaining kidney has to work harder, which can lower its function over time. Having only one kidney makes it harder for the body to filter toxins, control blood pressure, and increases the risk of kidney disease later. Rappaport is suing for $50,000 in damages. Allina Health said they plan to strongly defend the care they gave in court.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Warren Buffett Sells $168M in DaVita Inc. (DVA) Shares
According to a Form 4 filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, on May 8, Berkshire Hathaway sold 1,145,938 shares of DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA), valued at $168.58 million. The move occurred just a day before a union health benefits fund sued top dialysis services providers in the country, including DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA), for allegedly artificially inflating treatment costs for billions of dollars. Clinical laboratory technicians running tests in the comprehensive kidney care services. The class action lawsuit accused DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care of illegally carving up areas in the US to avoid competition. The plaintiffs added that the two companies colluded in parallel price increases that were higher than those of competitors and not explained by market forces. DaVita has denied the allegation as baseless and vowed to defend itself vigorously against it. The sell-off just a day before the lawsuit has once again proven Warren Buffett's business foresight, which has been a cornerstone of Berkshire's success. Despite the recent trade, DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA) remains a top pick from the 94-year-old's stock portfolio, with holdings of over $5 billion in the company. DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA) is one of the largest kidney dialysis providers in the US with 2,657 centers. The company also operates 509 dialysis centers in 13 other countries. The stock has surged by 4% in the past 12 months. While we acknowledge the potential of DVA, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DVA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Cheap Rising Stocks to Buy Right Now and ChatGPT Stock Advice: Top 12 Stock Recommendations. Disclosure: None.
