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"Croatia links kidney deaths to machines"

An emergency meeting of the Croatian cabinet has heard strong suggestions of a link between the deaths of 21 kidney dialysis patients and the US-manufactured equipment used to treat them.
Twenty-one out of 23 patients who died in the past week all used equipment made by the US firm Baxter, the ministers heard.

A full inquiry has been launched, but Prime Minister Ivica Racan told the meeting that initial findings pointed to filters made by Baxter.

Deputy Interior Minister Josip Vresk
" All (deceased) persons have used the equipment named Plivadial P-15 and P-18, which US firm Baxter produces"

Baxter has said there is no evidence of a connection, pointing out that the machines used, dialysers, are only one part of the treatment process.

"Data from hospitals show that there was more than one common element to all the patients, including what we call disposables - needles, dialysers and the solution used in the process," spokeswoman Patty O'Haer told the Reuters news agency. She said it would be impossible to prove the link without a thorough investigation, which could take weeks. A delegation of Baxter representatives had gone to Croatia to help with the inquiry, she said.

Baxter spokeswoman Patty O'Haer
"Data from hospitals show that there was more than one common element to all the patients"

At its emergency meeting, the Croatian Government decided to give compensation to the bereaved families, although details were not given.

It has also said it will liaise with the authorities in Spain, where 10 kidney patients died in August while undergoing dialysis using Baxter filters........

From BBC News - Monday, 15 October 2001.