The Brief
- A Milwaukee County judge dismissed a lawsuit against Children’s Wisconsin after the hospital mistakenly discarded half of a deceased donor’s brain.
- The hospital admitted to accidentally throwing away the tissue from Ashtyn Fellenz, which was donated for vital scientific research.
- The judge ruled that organ donors and their families relinquish all rights to donated tissue upon removal, but the family plans to appeal.
MILWAUKEE – Children’s Wisconsin is off the hook after mistakenly throwing out a donated brain. On Monday, Nov. 17, a Milwaukee County judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the donor’s parents.
Groundbreaking gene therapy
What we know:
When Ashtyn Fellenz was just 3 years old, she underwent groundbreaking gene therapy. That helped her survive a deadly childhood disease into her 20s.
When Fellenz died, her parents agreed to donate her brain for scientific research.
“It was a big part of her legacy,” said Scott Fellenz, Ashtyn’s father.
Donated brain accidentally tossed
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