ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - A woman died Friday after receiving a transplanted heart that was the wrong blood group, hospital authorities said, and prosecutors opened an investigation into possible negligent homicide.
Rosmarie Voser died before doctors could hook her up to an artificial heart that might have kept her alive temporarily, the Zurich University Hospital said in a statement.
Voser, 57, received the heart earlier this week after a long wait. Her search for a new heart had been covered in a series of reports broadcast on Swiss national television.
After surgery, Voser's body began to violently reject the heart. Doctors then discovered that the donor organ was blood group A, while Voser was O.
Hospital authorities said the cause for the mistake was not yet known.
State prosecutor Jaroslav Jokl said he began an investigation into possible negligent homicide. Police and prosecutors were interviewing those involved in the surgery, and Jokl ordered the hospital to hand over records relating to Voser's case.
