NHS heart valve on eBay
Published May 25th, 2007
A HEART valve was put up for sale on eBay, it was revealed yesterday.
A UK seller tried to illegally flog the life-saving device before bosses took it off the website auction.
The £300 valve — put on the website on Valentine’s Day — contravened eBay rules and staff contacted health officers.
The incident was kept under wraps and a team from the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency investigated.
It is still not known where the plastic and metal valve came from but a cardiologist at an NHS foundation trust hospital, who did not wish to be named, said last night: “This is worrying.
“It’s alarming to think this valve could have come from a patient. If it was a new valve and stolen from the NHS it is shocking. It means someone in need could have had a vital operation delayed.â€
Sales of surgical devices carry a massive risk to public health as they could carry HIV or Hepatitis C and there is no way of telling where they have come from.
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