The BBC has come under fire for a Holby City storyline revolving around organ donation, which was screened this week.
The episode, seen by around 5m viewers, focused on a girl who underwent a heart transplant operation, despite the mother of the intended donor trying to withdraw her consent for the surgery at the last minute.
However NHS Blood and Transplant - which focuses on organ donation - has called the storyline and events around it a 'gross distortion' of reality.
And they added that it has led to some people asking to be removed from donor lists - which could have potentially fatal consequences for those in need of transplants.
The BBC was also accused of going ahead with the Holby storyline despite a senior nurse from the organisation having previously voiced reservations.
“Despite her sharing professional concerns about the proposed storyline, these scenes were nevertheless retained, presumably for the purpose of creating a more controversial storyline," NHSBT chiefs said in a letter of complaint.
“The bodies of recently dead were portrayed as commodities and the wishes of grieving relatives treated with callous disregard. It was in our view inexcusable and reckless.”
They also claimed that other inaccuracies were shown - such as the mother of the prospective donor Poppy - who had been declared brain dead after an accident - being told the name of the transplant patient.
She also witnessed the first part of her daughter's surgery even after saying she did not want the operation to go ahead - which the NHSBT said would not happen in reality.
The BBC has already received almost 50 complaints about the episode.
A spokesman for the corporation said: "The purpose of this storyline is to dramatise the consequences that could arise should the protocols be ignored."
