Hospital reverses decision on new heart for 15 year old.

[CK_John]

http://www.today.com/health/after-initial-denial-teen-granted-spot-heart-transplant-list-6C10910056

[msanthrope]

1. I bet they did. Amazing what the media can do. nt

[Gman]

2. I hope it's the right decision

Someone else could live for many years with the heart he might get.

[busterbrown]

3. How come few question the alcoholic receiving a liver transplant in the same manner as ..

you did in this case.. The Alcoholics who receive a treasured organ in a transplant probably has more
of a checkered pass than the kid.... I know about such things...

[laundry_queen]

4. Not only that

but I think it's somewhat unethical to hold at 15 year old to the same standard as a 30 year old with regards to compliance. If the parents are unable to get their CHILD to be compliant with meds, then the medical staff has a duty to find a way (social worker, homecare nurse) to get the child compliant. A 15 year old is mentally unable to fully comprehend the long term consequences of their actions. For the hospital to punish HIM for a failure of the support system for a child, I think is unethical.

[Orrex]

5. It's a complex situation

A 15 year old is mentally unable to fully comprehend the long term consequences of their actions. For the hospital to punish HIM for a failure of the support system for a child, I think is unethical.

Let's suppose that the next person in line for that same heart is the sole income provider for a family of four who has no history of behavior or compliance issues. Is it ethical to give the heart instead to the 15 year old in spite of that 15 year old's history?

In addition, 15 year olds are routinely held accountable for their actions. It is an over-simplification and a mistake IMO to absolve the child of responsibility simply based on age. It is not inappropriate to weigh his behavior when making decisions about his medical care.


It's a terrible situation and I'm glad that I'm not the one who has to make those decisions. The only thing I'm sure of is t hat it's more complicated than an online news blurb can truly convey.

[brer cat]

6. I agree completely, Orrex.

I would also add that the decision should not be made by who gets the most publicity. This is the second decision recently that has been reversed after extensive media attention.

It is a very complex decision where a number of people are going to lose out simply because there aren't enough organs for the people who need them. There may be no perfect way to handle this, but I would prefer leaving it to the medical professionals.

[TBF]

7. Agreed - it should not be an emotional decision driven by the media.

These transplant committees should be allowed to do their work and make the best (most logical) choice in each situation. It shouldn't be shrouded in secrecy or anything like that, but it doesn't seem like it is fair to older patients for the parents of these children to throw temper tantrums and get their way every time just because the media gets involved.

[Orrex]

8. Great points!

The new technology of 3-D printed organs looks very promising as a way to help ease the transplant bottleneck, but in the meantime we should trust the process to those who are trained to make the hard decisions.

You are exactly correct about the problem of media involvement.

[Sotf]

9. What are they going to do?

Use a cattle prod? How do you "make" them do it?

Dollars to pesos this heart goes to waste....