NHS Mechanical Heart Valve Goes Up For Bid On eBay for $600

To think there is a market for mechanical heart valves on eBay?

This story comes straight out of the ridiculous file… Cheers. Adam

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.”

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.

An op to insert an artificial valve into the body normally costs more than £10,000.

They are used to prevent blood flowing backwards and can last for 25 years inside the patient.

It was not disclosed how much the seller wanted for the valve — or if anyone entered a bid. An MHRA spokesperson said: “We are seeing an alarming increase in medical devices being sold on the internet.”

(Source: The Sun - UK)