Health

3-Year-Old Denied Kidney Transplant Due to Mental Retardation Receives Slew of Online Support

Amelia Rivera Denied Kidney Transplant Because of Retardation

Amelia Rivera (Image via Wolf-Hirschhorn.org)

It’s upsetting enough for parents to have to consider transplant procedures for their toddler. But a meeting with a transplant team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) quickly became controversial for one couple over two words cited as the reason the couple’s child was being denied a transplant: mentally retarded.

Last week, Chrissy Rivera, her husband Joe and their 3-year-old daughter, Amelia, attended a meeting at CHOP, where Amelia’s primary physicians have been since her infancy. This meeting was, however, to discuss a kidney transplant Amelia would need within six months to a year. The catch, at least for some doctors, is that Amelia has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.

Rivera explains in a blog post that her daughter, whose condition includes symptom’s like slow development, seizures and mental retardation, was told she was not be eligible for the kidney transplant she would need because of “brain damage” and “quality of life.” Here‘s some of Rivera’s account:

The doctor begins to talk and I listen intently on what he is saying. He has a Peruvian accent and is small, with brown hair, a mustache and is about sixty five years old. He gets about four sentences out ( I think it is an introduction) and places two sheets of paper on the table. I can’t take my eyes off the paper. I am afraid to look over at Joe because I suddenly know where the conversation is headed. In the middle of both papers, he highlighted in pink two phrases. Paper number one has the words, “Mentally Retarded” in cotton candy pink right under Hepatitis C. Paper number two has the phrase, “Brain Damage” in the same pink right under HIV. I remind myself to focus and look back at the doctor. I am still smiling.

It wasn’t long before Rivera was no longer smiling. Breaking out of what she describes as a hazy fog “like swimming under water”, Rivera said “Stop talking for a minute. Did you just say that Amelia shouldn’t have the transplant done because she is mentally retarded. I am confused. Did you really just say that?”

As the doctor confirms what he was saying, Rivera told him that a family member planed on donating but was told this was not a solution either:

“Noooo. She—is—not—eligible –because—of—her—quality– of –life—Because—of—her—mental—delays” He says each word very slowly as if I am hard of hearing.

Since this account was posted on the Wolf-Hirschhorn.org blog, which serves as an information network about the disorder as well as a support line for parents, on Jan. 12, support for Amelia has flooded the Internet. USA Today reports that more than 16,000 signatures advocating for Amelia have been posted on change.org; CHOP’s Facebook page has been inundated with complaints; #teamamelia has spread the story on Twitter; and dozens of blogs have voiced support for the family.

All of this, USA Today reports, appears to be  working as Rivera told them Monday that the hospital invited the family back for another meeting. USA Today reports Rivera as saying the family would like to continue care at CHOP, as its where Amelia’s other treatment has been.

According to USA Today, the hospital has responded to the blog post with two Facebook posts and an email:

In an e-mail, hospital spokeswoman Dana Mortensen did say: “The term ‘mental retardation’ is not used in any information regarding appropriateness for transplantation. The term ‘progressive irreversible brain damage’ has been used, and we are currently reevaluating this language given the potential for misunderstanding of our intent.”

Amelia Rivera Denied Kidney Transplant Because of Retardation

One of the Facebook responses from CHOP.

USA Today reports David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, as saying it would be illegal for the hospital to deny a transplant solely on mental development based on the Americans With Disabilities Act. USA Today also points to a 2006 study that showed those with mental disabilities doing well after kidney transplants and also a 2008 study that said 43 percent of transplant programs do consider developmental delay as a factor in transplant decisions.

But, Lisa Belkin, a former New York Times medical reporter, writes on the Huffington Post that she doesn’t think Amelia should be eligible for the transplant. Here’s part of her argument why:

Kidneys, all human organs, are among the rarest and most precious of the world’s resources. The National Kidney Foundation tells us that 104,748 people are currently waiting for a transplant of some kind right now and 4000 names are added to that list each month. Today — every single day — 18 people will die while waiting. Each of those patients is someone’s child.

[...]

Which is why there are rules — unemotional, clinical, detached rules — for a situation that is none of those things. And it is why there are forms like the ones placed in front of Amelia’s parents. Amelia is not being denied a donor transplant because she is, as her mother writes, “mentally retarded.” She is being denied a donor transplant because she has a cascading syndrome that will shorten and limit her life, meaning that kidney will not “save” her in the way that it might someone who starts out healthier. In cold clinical terms this means that everything it takes to undergo a transplant — the medications, the repeated biopsy procedures afterwards, the constant monitoring and machinery — are difficult and sometimes impossible compared with a child who is less impaired. The less mobile a patient is, the far greater the likelihood that she will develop an infection, or pneumonia, or a host of other complications that make it probable that the transplant will eventually fail. Which, in those same cold clinical terms, would make it a waste of an organ.

Belkin writes that its a reality that “brings her to tears”, but even Dr. Kurt Hirschhorn, whom she contacted, said he doesn’t think Amelia should be eligible for a transplant. Belkin does note that this viewpoint is based on kidney donation from a stranger; she writes that in the event a family member were to donate the kidney voluntarily that Amelia should be eligible. Hirschhorn even said he doesn’t understand why the hospital would deny that.

Susan Senator, a mother of two autistic boys, writes a counterpoint in the Huffington Post, stating that there are harsh realities, “limited resources” and “bad laws,” but that we shouldn’t continue accepting them with bad decisions. Senator writes that in addition to looking at the reason for kidney shortages we need to review “our current way of looking at disability.”

 

Comments (230)

1 2 3 4
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:28pm

    The doctors should not refuse the child transplant surgery if a family member is donating the kidney. There should not be any problem with this at all.
    Has the world gone mad?

    Report Post »  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:50pm

      not at all. you do understand they are not swaping engines on an old chevy pickup, they are transplanting organs which could kill them both the donor and the reciever family or not. thats on top of the retardation problems she is already has

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • LeadNotFollow
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:34pm

      PATRIOT…
      When you love someone, it’s worth the risk.

      Report Post »  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:43pm

      yes when YOU love someone. it is I completly agree. NOW tell me what do you do when you have thousands of people you never met and have to make the same decision?

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
  • Patriot Z
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:26pm

    im gonna get slammed….buuuttttt. honestly the docs may be right on this. This kid is going to be retarded for her entire life. meaning she will need someone to take care of her every need. Organs ARE is very shoert supply not to mention the complications of surgury and rejection etc. I know its sad Im not gonna deny that. but are we really gonna tell another child who actually has a chance to make something in her life she has to die because the organ that was going to save her life went to another person who will not be able to do anything with it? If i were her parents id be pissed and fighting too. but as an objective ‘observer’ the docs called it right. Sometimes you have to put on your big boy pants and make the tough calls that are not popular but for the greater good. “do you shut the door letting in water and trap 10 friends to die to save the ship of hundreds from sinking?”

    Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • natebub
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:48pm

      your a perfect candidate for the Death Panels,,,,,,,,picking who lives and who dies.

      Report Post » natebub  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:01pm

      natebub? is that your comeback? what world do you actually live in where organs are plentiful? there are countless numbers of people waiting for organs, and many who die still waiting. Im 1000000% against obama care but this situation existed long before oc ever existed ‘deathpanels’ have nothing to do with this. and you never answered the questions i posed either. avoiding the questions in life and the tough choices does not make you more noble than me, it just makes you weaker than me. how would YOU choose? between 2 people who needed the transplant and only 1 could get it? respond.

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • Tower7_TRUTH
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:09pm

      Once again the tyrannical claws of the medical industrial complex, supported by big brother government, have grazed the flesh of an intelligent, educated mother that has refused to bow down to the lies of the vaccine agenda.

      Rachel Garmon, a resident of the Centre County area of Pennsylvania, recently took her 2 ½ year old son to an appointment with a new pediatrician. Mrs. Garmon states in her recent interview with Alex Jones that her visit with the doctor was going well. The pediatrician even stated that the boy looked very healthy. This was of course until the good doc found out that Rachel had never vaccinated her son. http://www.infowars.com/doctor-calls-police-child-services-on-mother-who-refuses-to-vaccinate-son/

      Report Post » Tower7_TRUTH  
    • ChristinaK065
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:21pm

      A family member is donating the organ not a stranger, so i see no reason why she cant have the operation and, this comment( are we really gonna tell another child who actually has a chance to make something in her life she has to die because the organ that was going to save her life went to another person who will not be able to do anything with it?) so by this comment you are saying handicapped people cannot make something of themselves. WOW this is the the Obama Thinking

      Report Post » ChristinaK065  
    • RAN58
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:23pm

      Patriot Z, your comments are indicative that you have not worked around people who are developmentally disabled. I worked in such an environment for 5 years. Working with age groups ranging from children to adults. And people just like Amelia have great lives, working independently and being ‘productive’ members of society. Unless you are God you have no idea how Amelia will contribute. Your comment and attitude belies a discrimination against the developmentally disabled in our country that needs to be overturned. And no, Natebub wasn’t far off regarding his death panels comment. Because in essence that is the choice that is being made. Death for Amelia because she doesn‘t meet your idea of a productive human being or having the right ’quality of life.’
      As for the one making the tough choice, is doesn’t seem to be you. It’s always easy to write off the weak, the disenfranchised, those different than us, or people we don’t understand.

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:29pm

      ALL men are created equal.
      EVERY LIFE is EQUALLY valuable.
      There is NO life that is of more worth than another… NONE!
      We agree that we will protect our President and other key officials, not because THEY are better people or are inherently more valuable than us, but rather, because of they office they hold and the need to preserve our nation.
      This girl deserves a transplant as much as anybody else.
      Now, if her life expectancy were extremely short, like 1yr, even WITH a transplant, then we would have to consider the life expectancy.
      BUT… to declare a “quality of life” reason… That is like the DEATH PANEL type stuff that we have been warning about. If quality of life is the deciding factor, then, the woman with the phd will get one before the man who repairs cars. BECAUSE SHE IS “WORTH MORE.” – BULL !

      And WE CONSERVATIVES are called “cruel” for insisting that able-bodied people WORK for a living!

      TomFerrari  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:38pm

      ChristinaK065: again you are avoiding the questions i posed. we are not talking about can or cannot we are talking about the BEST USE OF A VERY RARE RESOURCE. Are you saying that its wrong to say that a girl who will never be able to take care of herself is not as good a candidate as someone with fully functioning brain who needs it? come on, a big heart dosent mean a small brain does it? and again do you think obamacare caused this? or could stop it? No so it dosent apply.

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • doc16mom
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:43pm

      I love to see you live the decisions of these Dr’s if you had a child you deeply loved with developmental disabilites and special health care needs. It easy to say when your children are heathy and“ normal” if you even have children. Someday you may be asked to take the poison you find so easily dished out by you. Your life can change in an instant god forbid your child had an accident that left then with brain damage or cancer that the dr”s refused to treat because the treatment cost too much. Like to see ya swallow that pill……you would be great for the fabian socialist society……..talk to me God Forbid one of your family members was turned down for life saving treatment….talk is cheap!

      Report Post »  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:50pm

      RAN58: I have volunteered with united way and special olympics over 10 yrs. So I have a good understanding. its a nice sentiment but has no place in reality. Again, organs are NOT all over, they are very rare and very hard to comeby. Im not talking about a rich old fart jumping to the head of the line over a child simply cause they got money. I am stating that a girl whos brain is damaged and will severly limit her ability to lead a self sufficent productive life is NOT as good a candidate as a person who does not have the same mental and physical problems she does. Im not saying it to be cruel, but as a matter of fact. Again sometimes life is cruel and not fair. but avoiding the facts in favor of a more plesant but inaccurate belief is far closer to the obamacare / liberal abortion, than my belief. Again the mark of a leader is the ability to make the tough calls based on whats right, not popular or nice. Im not saying she cannot have it, but the fact still remains that it is going to be a waste and avoiding it dosent make it noble

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:01pm

      doc16mom – your argument is pointless. the docs are NOT their parents. I would fight too if I was in their situation. But the doctors are the ones who have to make the decision about the viablitiy of the best candidates for a very expensive surgury, that has a high rate of rejection and requires something that is very very very hard to come by. Im sure it makes people feel good supporting her. and again if I were her parents id be mad too. but as much as people want to hate it these doctors have to decide who lives and who dies with these oporations ALL THE TIME. when you state this person gets that rare organ, that means that you just condemed not 1 but possibly hundreds or thousands to die PERIOD. special needs are not the same as others. This girl would still be very broken with the operation and you need specific criteria, and logic to make sure the best people get this rare gift, not warm fuzzies.

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • koyettsu
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:03pm

      How can you tell me that allowing someone else to decide if they are going to save your child or not is ok? If the family can cover it, they want to try and save their child they should have the same right as everyone else at trying to get the transplant. To hell with if she is mentally handicapped or not, she has the same right to life that every other human being has. To suggest otherwise is disgusting.

      Report Post »  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:04pm

      I’m gonna throw my part in with the hospital, docs, and Patriot Z here. It’s easy to say every human being is worthy of receiving a rare, precious, lifesaving resource, but the fact is that these kinds of resources always have been rationed, and until tissue engineering is capable of generating them by the dozen, they always will be.

      It’s also easy to say that the developementally disabled lead productive lives when the product of their lives is your salary for working with them.

      There is a list of criteria a mile long for things that disqualify a person in need, even DIRE need of an organ transplant. Exhibitted suicidal tendencies. Habitual drug abuser. Inability to understand and follow medical instructions for their own care. So if it came down to Emelia, a 5 year old child of normal developement, and an apathetic suicidal druggy, all of whom are in dire need of ONE. SINGLE. KIDNEY, who should get it?

      But wait, it doesn’t end at a nice, neat, three way question. For each and every organ that becomes available, there are not three, but closer to 3,000 people, all of whom NEED that ONE organ. It’s rationing, yes. It’s also reality. Everyone of those 3,000 people will be weighed, measured, and if the probabilities for a successful transplant are unacceptably low for one of them, found wanting.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • judeslice
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:10pm

      “This kid is going to be retarded for her entire life. meaning she will need someone to take care of her every need”
      so what? does this mean she is worthless? We have to put on our big boy pants and make hard choices! So the person who is giving up the kindey to try and help this little girl out is not grown up or making a hard choice? And to sit there and say that you are against obama care is carp. Your way of thinking is just like obamas. You do not value life but your own. If you had a daughter that was retared (as you put it), you honestly want us to believe that you would tell your wife. Look honey our girl she is retared and you know the normal people out there well they can make something of their lives, so it is ok that her own family can not help her. What a load of crap.!!!! You know who else thinks like you Hitler, T4 program, the abortionist, marget sanger, people who believe in population control, eugenics and all those wonderful things. I do not care what you say or think you are in the same boat as far as thinking about this view, and to say that she does not deserve to have a life, to live because she is retared is a joke. You can caall yourself a patriot, but I want no part of a group of people that agrue and would make choices just because someone is retared they do not deserve to live. All life has vaule, All life and when you start picking winners and loser based upon on what you believe then we are no different then Hitler, and the germen people.

      Report Post »  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:24pm

      @ JUDESLICE:
      I didn‘t see anyone saying that a mentally retarded person’s life is worthless, or that all retarded people should just crawl off in a ditch and die. If a retarded person is healthy enough to not require organ transplants, I know for a fact that they can live to a ripe old age, and no one is begrudging them their existence. There are no Hitlers or Sangers or eugenicists here, except in your fevered imaginings.

      A mentally retarded person’s life is not worthless, but when measured in the harsh calculus of organ transplantation with another person’s life, another person not mentally retarded with a higher probability of a successful, non-rejected, transplant and recovery to lead a more productive life than the mentally retarded person could, then yes, the mentally retarded person’s life is worth less (two words, not one).

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:27pm

      judeslice: its not crap. you want to cry hitler and blah blah blah, but you FAILED to adress any of my questions and points other than you didnt like them. again Im asking you directly. you have 2 people waiting for a high risk surgery that requires a rare item that will not be available again soon and when you choose 1 the other WILL DIE! WHO DO YOU CHOOSE? what criteria would you use? if im so full of crap and evil then tell me what you would do because THAT is the decison that needs to be made. you want to avoid the questions and fall back into this tv fantasy world where decisions dont have consequences. well guess what the fact that i am actually analyzing the actions and consequences over feel good plattitudes and kumbaya spiritual nonsense prooves that you are closer to obama than I am. so answer my questions please how would you choose

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:28pm

      @BYEHILK:
      In order to say yes to Emelia, those same doctors will have to say no to the other 2,999/3,000 people that are in need of that organ. Can YOU say no to all of THOSE people in order to say yes to Emelia?

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:40pm

      @ Patriot Z:
      People like Doc 16 Mom and Judeslice live in the fantasy world where there are enough organs for everyone, hot and cold running vital organs. So, the only reason these docs would refuse to transplant an organ into little Amelia is that they are bigotted against the developementally disabled. And, if there was an organ that would go to waist were it not transplanted specificly into Amelia, I’d agree with them. Fact is, there isn’t. Even the relative donor would tie up hospital supplies and resources and an OR in order to perform the transplant, all of which are in short supply.

      It really is a Leftist mindset. Screw everyone else, ME AND MINE get first dibs on the resources of others.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • bob4225
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:55pm

      you disgust me my wife is disabled and shes the smartest person i know.would you exspect me to just let her die.persons with autism are inteligent but called dum and retarded.com on grow up.you sound like a democrat to me.

      Report Post »  
    • Jezreel
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:53pm

      Patriot, I am willing to bet that this little girl will contribute more blessings and happiness in life way more than you ever could, therefore, maybe you are the one that needs to be obliterated.

      Report Post »  
    • momTEXAS
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:01pm

      I think the point was that the organs have to go to the healthiest people. The people with the highest probability of living a long life. Her disease is going to limit her life and the kidney is not going to “save” her life the way it would for another person.

      Report Post »  
    • chris3
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:06pm

      oh! thought it was my body . if i can kill A LIFE GROWING INSIDE MY BODY I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY I WANT MY KIDNEY TO GO TO THIS CHILD. YOUR NOT GOD !

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:09pm

      So Patriot Z by your logic, if you needed a transplant, you should be denied as it is obvious that you are severely brain damaged.

      Tell me who the HELL do you think you are to determine or a doctor to determine who should qualify for a transplant. People are equal in God’s eyes, just because they don’t meet your criteria as to the quality of life they would have, does not mean they are less deserving. She is still a human being. I guess that is why you have no problem killing a baby before it is born.

      I’ve have been around enough doctors, who have told my former parent-in-laws their foster child would never learn anything. Tammy learned her colors, she learned to count and she went to a special school. True she needs constant care, but that does not mean she is not human and deserving of an organ.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • BonnieBlueFlag
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:16pm

      Let me explain something here: The daughter cannot receive a kidney transplant from a relative because for the most part hospitals no longer do this. I have a dear friend with a bad liver due to non-contagious autoimmune hepatitis. She has been told she is too sick to have children, but too well to be high on the transplant list. So I asked her if I could get tested to be a match to divide my liver in half and transplant half. She told me not to bother. Why? Because she already had willing siblings but the doctors will not perform an elective transplant because it isn’t “fair” to those on the waiting list.

      That is wrong. That is socialism. That is Obamaworld.

      Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
    • 2776
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:17pm

      The answer to your question is simple, if there are two people who need an organ, said organ should go to the first person on the waiting list. It is not our job or the job of the Dr. to decide who will contribute more to society and thus be more deserving of a transplant.

      You sound a little bit like George Bernard Shaw when he said “We should find ourselves committed to killing a great many people whom we now leave living… A part of eugenic politics would finally land us in an extensive use of the lethal chamber. A great many people would have to be put out of existence simply because it wastes other people’s time to look after them.”

      Report Post »  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:42pm

      @2776:
      That’s exactly what they did do. The controversy was not, “We have this kidney in hand, but we won‘t give it to Amelia because she’s mentally retarded.” It was, “Amelia will need a kidney in the next 6-12 months, but we’re not going to PUT HER ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST, because she’s mentally retarded.” As well as other criteria from the extensive list of eligibility requirements that point to Amelia being a poor risk for kidney transplant.

      This is all about concrete, objective eligibility requirements to be put on the waiting list. All arguments about a specific kidney going or not going to Amelia is referencing a notional, hypothetical kidney. There is no kidney for Amelia now, since she’s not on the transplant list, and because she meets criteria for exclusion from the transplant list, there will be no kidney for Amelia ever.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • ChristianConservative76
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:09pm

      40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

      41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

      44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

      45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

      46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Nuff said sir.

      Report Post » ChristianConservative76  
    • 2776
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:55pm

      @LESBIAN PACKING HOLLOW POINTS

      I can see no logic for mental retardation alone being a reason to keep somebody off the wait list. Only life threatening diseases should prevent somebody from getting on this list, and never should the voluntary donation by a friend or relative be denied by a hospital.

      you said “A mentally retarded person’s life is not worthless, but when measured in the harsh calculus of organ transplantation with another person’s life, another person not mentally retarded with a higher probability of a successful, non-rejected, transplant and recovery to lead a more productive life than the mentally retarded person could, then yes, the mentally retarded person’s life is worth less (two words, not one).” —This IS eugenics.

      Intelligence should not be in the equation, should an IQ test be required to get on a donor list? Should we have to prove our worth to society first? Organs are such a rare commodity that maybe only the upper class should be considered. Anybody can serve burgers, so we should save organs for politicians,doctors, and scientists right? You said it: One persons life is “worth less” than another persons life.

      I am sure you also agree with this: “all animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Clearly you find it easy to judge another’s worth.

      Report Post »  
    • DianneM
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 12:25am

      Mental retardation should never be a criteria for who gets to live or die. It is wrong in cases of abortion, and it is wrong in cases of denial of care. This is not simply about transplants, as the person who wanted to donate to Amelia was a LIVING relative who would not have been donating to a stranger anyway. There was concern about the anti-rejection medication causing further damage to her brain and further retardation, but that wasn’t the issue. It wasn’t even that she would not live for the next fifty years. It was the fact that she is mentally retarded and requires ongoing care. In short because she was handicapped and therefore not worthy of life. This is a mentality that has lead to THOUSANDS of forced sterilzations on US soil. Indeed it is a mentality that led to the formation of Sanger’s Birth Control League, later changed to Planned Parenthood and a mentality that was taken even farther by Hitler’s Germany. This is what one might call a slippery slope. This is the mentality that leads to 90% of children with Down syndrome to be aborted before they are ever born, We cannot ever allow these disabled persons to be treated as though they are non persons, whose lives are worth nothing.They would rather her die than have someone caring for her. Very sad.

      Report Post »  
    • RossPoldark
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 12:29am

      Never the less, regardless of this child’s disabilities, of which her disabilities do not appear to be severe, she is a human being. I get irritated by people like you that want to define quality of life by your standards. Imagine what these parents are going through, seeing the child happy, playing etc., Must be hard for any parent to see her as less than a human being. Remember ….you might be in the parents shoes one day. Lastly, when it comes to organ transplants, it amazes me how people who have money suddenly go to the top of the list. I will give you examples of people who have had critical conditions receiving a liver transplants. Evil Kanieval was one that had a per-existing life threatening condition, but received a liver transplant due to alcoholism. Mickey Mantel, was in his 60s and received one but had cancer. He lived several months and died. Then there is Steve Jobs who..knew he had cancer…yet…he received a liver transplant. Sally Jessie Rafael’s drug addicted daughter got a liver transplant. Larry Hagman, an alcoholic, Crosby from Crosby Stills and Nash Alcoholic. Crosby, Hagman, and kanieval reverted to drinking. Tell me, what is your opinion on Stephen Hawkins who has made major contributions to the science world, and yet, is on a respirator, and must speak with a computer. Do you think he should be euthanized? Quality of life is not in the eyes of the beholders, but in the personal choice of each person.

      Report Post »  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 12:52am

      @2776:
      Um… no. It is NOT eugenics. Eugenics would say that active steps must be taken to ensure that Amelia can’t procreate, or in extreme cases of eugenics, to actually kill her. This is an issue of organ transplant list eligibility requirements. It states that, quite the opposite of affirmative action taken to hinder Amelia’s life, because she meets certain, objective criteria for exclusion from the transplant list, no action need be taken to save or prolong her life beyond that with which her own genetic reality has gifted her.

      And we are not merely talking about a mentally retarded person. There are other criteria which would exclude her from the transplant list regardless of the mental retardation issue. She has a degenerative syndrome, only one symptom of which is mental retardation. Her health is destined to get much worse at an accelerating rate and she will likely die quite young. Google Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome to get a better idea of what this kid is in for and then ask yourself if you could deliberately prolong that as well as adding the issues accompanying invasive surgery on top of it.

      In other media, this story is being spun as a child who simply has “developemental delays”. Amelia is not delayed. There is developement and growth that she will simply not attain, lifesaving invasive surgery or not. If she merely had Down’s Syndrome, that would be different. Down’s is not degenerative. I had an Nth cousin M times removed who was Down’s. He lived t

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 12:56am

      to a ripe old age. I would be surprised if Amelia celebrated her sweet sixteen, even if given a kidney.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Lonescrapper
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:30am

      You think this is a good idea because she’s mentally retarded, but what happens when they decide that being deaf reduces your quality of life, or being blind, or that you don’t understand English, or that you are too old? Quality of Life is a COMPLETELY subjective term. You could die in a car accident tomorrow with that brand new kidney…

      Report Post » Lonescrapper  
    • BlackAce41
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 7:25am

      PatriotZ.. What if it was your child.. would you honestly say that “oh she is retarded she doesn’t need it>>> If you think that was then you should work for Obama care.

      Report Post » BlackAce41  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:24am

      PATRIOT Z,
      You’re no patriot. You are a moral relativist.
      The argument about who gets a kidney and who does not is moot.
      A family member was going to be the donor.

      Please reread the article and this time read it for comprehension.
      Your every post here indicates that you are one of those people with a C mind who managed to get A‘s and B’s on your report card.

      Well that’s fine and dandy…,but grades and degrees do not measure wisdom.
      You Patriot are wisdom challenged.

      Report Post »  
    • old white guy
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:26am

      eugenics is the word you want.

      Report Post »  
    • old white guy
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:31am

      lesbian, it is eugenics by your definition. she will not live to reproduce.

      Report Post »  
    • superbyelich
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:00am

      The problem isn’t just that she was rejected, but a family member was slated to donate one for her… I don’t see why she would be denied when she was being donated to DIRECTLY. This isn’t just some “moral” judgement call. This was pure discrimination.

      Report Post » superbyelich  
    • momslovenhugs
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:12am

      Your right, you should be blasted. First of all, mentally retardated children aren’t a waste and they do plenty with their lives. Second, you shouldn‘t speak if you haven’t already educated yourself on mental retardation. There are several levels and losts of very high functioning people in our society. This thought process comes from the days of putting children/people in mental hospitals and labeling them throw away children. I have a son with special needs and developementally delayed, he is now on par with his class mates in Kindergaten. He has thought us, school and children more then we could ever learn in a book. You see people’s eyes light up when he walks into a room. I dont just have a child, I have a blessing and he should be treated as such.

      Doctors at Children’s Hospital sent us home with out-dated information and gave us a very grim picture of his future when the information they gave us was completely wrong. I don’t put much faith in their options now. A child isn‘t a pet you decided isn’t worth the vet bills and just let him die. She is a life and them not allowing the transplant is a death sentence. Are you even a parent?

      Report Post »  
    • judeslice
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:54am

      Patriot, and Les you can say what ever you want. You can make fun of me, you can say I did not answer your question, and so on. First you are worthless if your life as no worth, and the both of you believe that compared to a normal person she has no worth. Right? She will not be productive, Right?So if you are not Productive then what worht do you have? To say the Hitler Blah, Blah, Blah is just a joke. You do think like him, sanger, the complete lives system (look it up), eugenics, and people who believe in population control. Sorry I do not get this from TV. I do not have one, but I am in college, and have written papers, taken classes, and done a bunch of research on this issue. So say what you want. The fact is you think the same as all of them, and your point of veiw is theirs. Just go do some research on it. You can make up questions then say I did not address them, but I will make it clear. All life has value. The fact is she has a donnor for the kidney. But you don’t care remember she is retarded. She is not a productive member of our society, it is not worth the supplies, and the doctors time is it? Isn’t this what you wrote Les. So here we have a Kindey, a donor, and a chilld, but she does not deserve to have it because she is retarded, a non productive member of society. Have you two ever heard of the case of Buck VS Bell, this law went on to help Hitler write his laws against the retarded. And guess what you two are arguing for these laws.

      Report Post »  
    • Momof5inOH
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 1:32pm

      Here is the problem with your consideration. Who are you or I or anyone to say that another person’s life is less valuable that another? I am not God, you probably aren’t either, but we think we have the right to define quality when it comes to life. The fact is, I have met some very amazing, though handicapped, persons who are happy and bring joy to their families. These “healthy” people who some would like to contend have a better chance and should then receive an organ may tomorrow be doing one of any number of evils. We need to change our viewpoint! One thing I know is the God doesn’t look at this rat race with the same eyes that we do. Our selfish concerns are not on His agenda. All life is valuable and should be treated as such as it is made by the Creator of the universe. What is good for one is good for all. When we make these value judgments, we are sliding right into abortion for known genetic conditions and no medical care beyond a certain age. Can anyone say death panels? Lets give all life the value that God gives it, and we can leave it to Him to make the tough decisions about His own creation.

      Report Post » Momof5inOH  
    • AmericanGirly
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:09pm

      This girl also has: Hepatitis C, brain damage, and HIV. But if a family member wanted to and would be a match then they should have the right to do the transplant and not refuse. If that’s true this hospital is in some crap and that Puruvian, “barely speaking English” Dr is a POS!
      The sad reality is there is far more waiting for transplants than there is organs available for transplants, and if this girls survival chances are slim to live many years then I would support giving an available kidney to a child who has also a need for this kidney and that does not have a string of disablities against their health and would be able to live a long, full life. Her parents probably gave this poor child HIV and who knows about the rest of her problems. Sadly, too many children suffer brain damage due to trama by a parent or adult and they get away with it calling it a fall or accident! I’m not saying that this is the case here, I’m just saying too often it is! Give the needed kidney to a child who could live a longer, more quality life! Unfortunately this child don’t have too long to live, and her quality of life is greatly limited. Too bad too many people are ignorant and nasty for attacking you! Then again, that is the Liberal Way! Liberals will always try and twist anything around to make someone a “Hater” in their Liberal opinion! I don‘t care about the Liberal’s opinions as their heads are too messed up! ;-)

      Report Post »  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:48pm

      @ Old White Guy:
      Yes, in all likelihood, she won’t live to reproduce… But not, and here is the important part, not because of anything her doctors did do or did not do. Absent an overt act to prevent her inevitable fecundity (look it up), the term eugenics doesn’t apply. The fact that someone is born without the capacity for reproduction, or as in this case, is born with biologic defects that doom them to a very abbreviated lifespan, does NOT mean that NOT taking extraordinary measures to extend their lives is eugenics.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • DEADFACEBOOK
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 3:38pm

      i agree whole heartedly with you Patriot Z. why did they allow her to get this far through the process. we cant waste human organs.

      Report Post »  
    • MissBrazen
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 6:07pm

      I agree with you.If I had a child with a mental retardation and, that has heart problems and, an array of other health problems. I would have to come to grips if I was not a candidate for a liver transplant. Also, kidneys are limited. There are tons of little kids that need kidney transplants that will have a wonderful quality of life. I understand that everyone loves their child but when is it time to say when knowing about the conditions your child has?

      Report Post »  
    • airhead0
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 7:20pm

      Please stop for one moment and wrap your brain around what you just said. You chose one life over another because your definition of “quality of life”. A child who is not mentally disabled is more eligible for an organ on the chance they “may” make something of themselves, they could also die in a car crash 5 months later. We as Americans need to educate the public on the need for organ donation. If more people were donors this would be less of an issue. So…if she were blind would a child with sight rate higher on the list, when does does your logic end? and it must feel great to put on your big boy pants(from the clean laundry your mom did for ya) and spout off about the greater good, as far as I’m concerned that argument only has legs when the one being offered up makes that decision on their own instead of being thrown in the volcano by the rest of the tribe.

      Report Post » airhead0  
    • PissedOffSister
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:22pm

      PatriotZ. Let me guess…you have never incountered a human being with mental retardation? Oh wait you have? You didn’t learn anything about them then did you? My sister, who is mentally retarded, is 49. Guess what? She hasn’t had to have someone take care of her “every need” since she was an infant. Your argument that this is one reason why this girl should not have the transplant doesn’t hold up. Now, you think my sister hasn’t done anything with her life? Not this argument either. Who’s to say that “more deserving” person will make anything of their life? They could end up an alcholic or drug addict. My sister has held down multiple jobs at one time, & is approached by more people in her community then our mother is. This is because of the joy she brings to others. People love her BECAUSE of the mental retardation. She has had the same boyfriend for over 10 yrs and truly loves him. I agree with you, this isn’t easy anyway you look at it. But to imagine my life without the joy, love, caring, & thoughtfullness she has brought to it is beyond comprehension! I would not be the person I am without having had her in my life. She has made me, and many others, a better person. And beyond anything else, this would make her deserving of a kidney transplant! I would be interested to know, given everything equal, what does make someone more deserving then another? Should we consider hair or eye color? Maybe the cuter kid gets the kidney?

      Report Post »  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:55pm

      @ Airheado & Pissed Off Sister:
      I think you’re both focussing too much on Amelia and not enough on the bigger picture. When doctors have 3,000 people vying for each and every kidney, these questions of “Who gets this one?” absolutely HAS to be answered. Answered by someone. Do you think you could filter through thousands of dossiers of medical records and personal backgrounds and use whatever passes for your judgement to make a decision that is fair and equitable? If you can, then you must be the second coming.

      Because these decisions HAVE to be made, there are established, medical community consensus, criteria. They are objective. Try as you might to find subjectivity in them, you honestly can’t. Someone HAS to get that kidney, and 2,999 others have to be disappointed. Can you decide which of those 3000 should be the only one NOT disappointed?

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Bobsbride
      Posted on January 19, 2012 at 4:31pm

      Patriot Z, I sure hope you never have an event in your life that causes you to become disabled, unable to care for yourself for the rest of your life, etc., because then you will be like this little girl, and you already know what some think about the “value” of her life and her right to live. ::wink wink::

      Report Post »  
    • sbt
      Posted on January 19, 2012 at 7:56pm

      First I think we’d all agree this case is tragic. Unfortunately there are thousands/ millions of similar tragedies.

      It was said the Doctor was 65 and not an American. This has nothing whatever to do with the issue of candidacy . Younger doctors and American doctors face challenges like this case daily.
      Like it or not physicians are responsible for the reasonable rational use of medical resources; be it an organ, a test, an X-ray, admission , medication, resuscitation or costs ( money), that‘s what we’re charged with deciding.

      Although sometimes a hard concept, sometimes in medicine less is more. Not everyone is a candidate for every medical technology there is. They have a right to be considered IF appropriate.

      In this case, the Mom wrote she was told the transplant might be needed in 6-12 months. That’s plenty of time to get another opinion and if desired another hospital. In the meantime there are many treatments for patients with ‘pre ESRD’ that is patients not on dialysis. Patients who are denied a transplant are not sentenced to death as dialysis a viable option for most patients. I should add that there are some patients for whom dialysis is not appropriate either. Simply because the family is willing to donate doesn’t change the issue wise use of resources.

      The physician gave his honest assessment. He/ hospital have more to gain financially if they accepted this patient BTW.

      THERE ARE NO DEATH PANELS. MD’s make life and death decisions wit

      Report Post »  
    • LifeLetters
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:20pm

      The shortage here is not the number of kidneys or any other organs, it’s a drastic shortage of compassion. Thanks to the new powers granted to Health and Human Services, we may soon experience a shortage of beautiful, loving and innocent little three-year-old girls. No human, no matter how well-intentioned they think they are, should have the right to decide if she lives or dies, but thanks to Obamacare and the huge power-grab by HHS, they do. This is the result when government “provides” healthcare as though government has the right to control our rights. Rights can only come from God, not governments. Speak up now and repeal Obamacare, or as soon as you or your loved ones get sick, they‘ll decide we’re not worth saving either.

      Report Post »  
  • NOTvotingforRomney
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:18pm

    I am with giving a kidney to a child of normal intelligence also.

    Too bad someone doesn’t start a organ donation bill of rights sheet that “donors” sign spelling out EXACTLY who should or shouldn’t get their organs. It is not the donor team‘s decision who should get a donor’s organs – it should be the donor’s decision.

    Sure there will be a few blacks or whites or Asians who say to only give their organs to someone of their race but most people are better than that. But, THAT is their right. Most will limit their organs going ONLY TO American citizens and not sold by the hospital or transplant team to the highest bidder in the Middle East when American citizens are dying because of a need for the organ.

    I think the DONOR should have a say BEFORE they die exactly who should get their organs. I would say give my liver to anyone but an alcoholic or drug addict who wrecked his. Don’t like my decision – too bad. Then I will be bured with my organs intact. Donate yours to the alcoholics and addicts. I would also not donate my organs or the organs of my family members to anyone who was not a USA citizens. . And, I would not give any organs to a mentally impaired child so long as there was a child with normal intelligence who needed it.

    Report Post »  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:18pm

      That’s not really a viable solution either. It‘s hard enough getting people to check yes on the back of their driver’s license to even BE an organ donor. You think you’re gonna get people to fill out more forms to specify what type of person can get what parts of them when they pass on? Not gonna happen. And do you really want to see bigots stipulating that the people against whom they are bigotted can’t get their organs. A KKK member stipulating that their heart can’t go to a black person? A NoI member stipulating that their kidneys can’t go to a white person? A turbo-Christian stating that their lungs can’t go to a gay person?

      I know THIS is gonna get me jumped on, but I prefer the organ donation scheme in… *cringe* France.

      Now wait! Wait! Hear me out. Over here in America, the default assumption regarding your mortal remains is that their disposition rests with the next of kin, unless they have made an overt act to permit their organs to be donated. In France, the default assumption regarding your mortal remains is that their disposition rests with the medical professionals to transplant what parts they can into people in need of them, and the NoK will decide the disposition of the remaining… remains, unless they have made an overt act to prevent their organs from being donated.

      It’s a lot easier to get an organ transplant in France than it is here. If the issue is important enough to an individual, they can take the overt act of filing the paperwork

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:25pm

      to prevent the harvesting of their organs after death. If it’s not important enough for an individual to take overt acts, then someone (probably many someones) likely gain a crucial, lifesaving gift.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • BonnieBlueFlag
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:30pm

      Organs almost always go to people of the same race anyway. They are much more likely to be a tissue match. As a side note, that is why there has typically been a shortage of organs for blacks, because blacks do not donate as much as other groups.

      http://health-equity.pitt.edu/429/

      Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:51pm

      True. I did forget that detail. But my argument still stands vis-a-vis all of the other forms of bigotry from ageism to sexism, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, etc., etc.

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Lonescrapper
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:35am

      Hollow points indeed.

      If a family member wants to donate, this is already a non issue. It isn’t about who is on the waiting list, since the article stated that she has a family member who is donating on her behalf, this is about an American Hospital denying service to a retarded child – which is against the law.

      Report Post » Lonescrapper  
    • NOTvotingforRomney
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:35am

      I disagree. People will be MORE WILLING to donate their organs IF they have a say on who EXACTLY gets their organs.

      If someone only wants to give to blacks or whites or to homosexuals or to whoever, AT LEAST they donated when they would otherwise (LIKE ME) refuse to donate since I don’t have a choice right now.

      If I could be GUARANTEED who my organs would go to, I would donate.

      My donor card would read DONATE my organs ONLY to USA VERIFIED citizens who are NOT Muslims, mentally challenged and who have NEVER been an alcoholic or drug addict. That means MILLIONS would still be eligible.

      But, I don’t have a choice on who gets my organs so I will NOT donate my organs.

      Report Post »  
  • piper60
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:54pm

    You think kidneys for transplants are rare now, wait til Obama care gets into full swing. Then, it won’t matter how brilliant you are, you either won’t get the transplant at all,or it’ll take so long to get it, that it won’t do you any good.

    Report Post » piper60  
  • acovenantinblood
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:49pm

    I believe they call this Zeke Emanuels Complete Lives System.

    Report Post » acovenantinblood  
  • drphil69
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:45pm

    Don’t worry, this will all be totally fair soon!

    With Obamacare, nobody will get transplants!!! Therefore, there can be no discrimination!! Isn’t it great!

    Report Post »  
    • Saintfyre
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:14pm

      Because Obamacare is what’s preventing people from signing up to be kidney donators….right.

      I’m sure a new kidney will also patch that brain damage right up so she can have a long fulfilling life.

      Report Post »  
    • Lonescrapper
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 4:39am

      If you‘re saying brain damage prevents you from having a ’long fulfilling’ life, we should have killed Kirk Douglas years ago, and Stephen Hawking, and every rapper in the entertainment industry (I think the Black Eyed Peas also show signs of brain damage). Stroke victims should just be put to death – and hey, you can harvest their organs while you are at it!

      Report Post » Lonescrapper  
  • reasonablerhetoric
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:40pm

    Obamacare doesn’t even start until 2014. This is standard procedure of private hospitals and donor centers. Be mad at the private sector; politics have nothing to do with it. I‘m so sick of people blaming something that isn’t even enacted yet. Ignorant fools.

    Report Post »  
    • antrancher
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:45pm

      That is all the Dr.s I have talk about now. You are wrong idiot. It has started!

      Report Post »  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:30pm

      this has nothing to do with obamacare(which is already taken effect and will make things far worse) This is life thats not fair. obamacare wont fix it and if europe is any indication will have far more rationing aka deathpanels than this.

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:37pm

    Take a look at the numbers

    The National Kidney Foundation tells us that 104,748 people are currently waiting for a transplant of some kind right now and 4000 names are added to that list each month. Today — every single day —18 people will die while waiting.

    Obamacare has nothing to do with this. There are not enough kidneys. Can you make the decision on who lives and dies? I have no clue what factors go into play when deciding who gets a kidney. I suspect it resembles military triage.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • BoyScout_Mom
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:22pm

      I presently know a young, single mother in her 20s, who has been on “The List” for a number of years now. I wonder how long she has left? The truth is, there are not enough kidneys. Please let this be reminder to all of us to make live- or deceased-organ donation a consideration.

      Report Post » BoyScout_Mom  
  • hcartexas
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:33pm

    RETARDED people should not get kidneys, that could otherwise be used to make a vialble person, who would then contribute to our society. Why save a ******? They have ZERO value. Its a sad situation, but sometimes… people die.

    Report Post » hcartexas  
    • Theworldsucks
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:52pm

      You’re one sick person, huh? Zero value? Maybe you’d feel differently if a metally retarded person was your friend, or sibling, or child. It’s a shame to see people so desensitized. Also, it wouldn’t be a waste of an organ, because it‘s a relative’s organ, who is donating it for her specifically, the organ probably wouldn’t be used unless it was allowed to be given to Amelia.

      Report Post »  
    • Kiergen
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:00pm

      HCAR, I would gather that besides your liberal leanings you are looking for a reaction. Here you go. As the father of a “retarded” child who is also blind I can attest that he actually gives back to the community. I pay a boat load of taxes for public school, yet he stays home with his mother. He requires no teacher, bussing, school lunch, school breakfast etc. His medical treatment, for which I have my own insurance, is no different from that of a normal child. He receives no local, state or federal benefits or services, which you must admit is far different from our able bodied recipient class. In the past he has contributed to the employment of therapists for speech and mobility, all paid for out of pocket. So before you call these kids a drain on society, get out of your mother’s basement, give back your welfare check and review the reality of the situation.

      Report Post »  
    • Theodwulf
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:08pm

      Sad to say it, I agree, this poor girl will never be independent, will not have children or contribute very much outside her family unit. If you have to choose , and you do, choose wisely. Your feel good moment may doom someone who has a future. Would you give it to a child born with HIV? How about a quadropalegic? How about a person who was in a permenant COMA due to an injury? For everyone given a transplant there are many who don’t get them.

      Report Post » Theodwulf  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:15pm

      That’s not the main reason she was denied. She is probably going to die even if they operate. Her syndrome is usually accompanied by LOTS of physical disabilities including a weak immune system that makes it unlikely that she can withstand transplant surgery and the long-term immunosuppressant drug regimen necessary to avoid rejection.

      Report Post »  
    • NOTvotingforRomney
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:27pm

      Crudely put but you are right. This child should not get a kidney. It is bad enough she will be on the taxpayer dole all of her life without contributing anything to it. The bleeding hearts are probably hoping she will marry and have children with a guy just like her and raise a few children with the same defect – ALL living on taxpayer handouts.

      This is WHY we should got to a National Sales tax and get rid of the income tax See how fast parents abort when they realize they won’t get a life-time deduction on their permanently disabled child. If you want the child – have it j- but don’t expect to be bailed out by the taxpayers through subsidies in the form of a tax deduction because these parents are no better than other lobbyists who cry for deductions for banks, farmers and others. Enough. Take care of your own.

      Report Post »  
    • godhatesacoward
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:55pm

      Karma is a b itch dude!

      Report Post » godhatesacoward  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:20pm

    As I read the article, a family member is to be the donor. I strikes me that the hospital is only being asked to do the operation since waiting for a suitable kidney is not a factor. If the issue is being bumped ahead of all others on the waiting list, that is a different issue to me.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • NOTvotingforRomney
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:13pm

      If the family is donating, why is there a problem? Unless the hospital is expected to pay for the transplant out of taxpayer money and not the parent’s insurance. Are they American citizens?

      Report Post »  
  • jnpg
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:19pm

    Get ready for Obamacaresless folks! I can see no reason to deny this operation if there is a family member willing to donate…

    Report Post »  
    • lildino1992
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 8:30am

      Of three articles I read on this topic, the fact there is a family member to donate is not the issue. It was denied because the kidney is not suitable. It is an adult kidney-too large for a 3 year. The kidney must come from a person of the same age and size other wise it is not a viable match.

      Report Post »  
    • NightWriter
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 2:41pm

      It’s so sad, but I don’t believe the docs decision not to place the little girl on the transplant list was based SOLELY on her mental handicap. From research, I see that her condition carries many physical and medical difficulties as well. These might make the surgery more difficult – the outcome less secure… they apparently did not convey this in a caring and proper manner to the parent.

      Not only must the donor be a close tissue match, an adult sized kidney won’t do for a three year old.

      There’s something else to think about – NOT mentioned in the article… anti-rejection drugs must be administered for the life of the ORGAN… and generally speaking the max lifetime of said organ is roughly ten years.

      and that’s IF she survived the surgery, biopsies, drug therapy, etc, etc.

      It’s a sad fact that the organs we do have access to MUST be rationed.

      I’m an organ donor (or will be when I’m done with them ; )

      Until then, I can give the gift of life – blood…

      Report Post »  
  • MIlitary Nurse
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:18pm

    As sad as this is and we ALL love to latch on to cute, lil kids and thier sad situations…the bottom line is that there are VERY few Kidneys available. I have a 13 onth old son and I hope to god to NEVER have to be inthis situation, but I am also a Nurse and understand the #s involved in this. Our brains seem to fall victim to our hearst desires…that lil girl is a cutie-pie, yes indeed.

    Report Post » MIlitary Nurse  
  • pam4freedom
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:18pm

    I can personally address this issue. I have a handicapped son in kidney failure who is 20. He has multiple issues, mentally, physically and behaviorally. We made the decision when he was very young that we would not do a transplant due to these issues. He could not tolerate the dialysis process, to wait but even so, we felt it was not right to withhold a kidney from an otherwise healthy person due to his many issues. It is a personal decision each family has to decide but there is a quality of life issue for each person, and sometimes parents have to ask themselves are they being selfish to just keep a child alive. If there is a quality of life that this child can enjoy and she does not have other medical conditions (hepititas c? hiv?) that will possibly destroy another kidney then these parents should fight like #*!!.

    Report Post »  
  • may40
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:05pm

    I am just horrified as to where we are as a nation. This article reads like something out of a Hitler log. The child already has a relative waiting to give her a kidney and they say “no” because of all those on the waiting list? Well I‘m sorry that’s just plain evil and I am convinced that society is thinking more and more evil each day. What a crying shame!

    Report Post »  
    • jnobfan
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:29pm

      Its a reality of government healthcare and life in general whether its Obamacare or not. When other people pay for things you want or need you will be subject to their rules.
      The answer here is also the same in healthcare or life in general.
      Raise the money and have it done the way you want it.
      Get off your butt and get it done.

      Report Post »  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:47pm

      MAY40, I was 57yrs old when I recieved a kidney from a young woman that is a client of the clinic where I work. Some would say that I was to old. I was sick for 10yrs prior to the transplant. So far I have had 4 good years that I would not have otherwise had. I didn’t take a kidney from anyone on the waiting list, and neither is she. She has a relative willing to give her a kidney, Why not? Regardless of her imperfections, she deserves a chance. I am surprised at some of the cold-hearted remarks posted. This is a little girl for gosh sakes. She has a family that loves her and wants to do everything humanly possible to help her. That is what we do for our children, as parents, they are in our care. When a Dr or a panel of strangers can deny you treatment based on a chart or a system that they have used to determine the value of a persons life then we are no longer living in a civilized society. How do you look at a child who is sick and refuse to help them?

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • Bonnieblue2A
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:03pm

    Eugenics: more to come with Obamacare.

    Report Post »  
    • Publius Novus
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:11pm

      Liberals & progressives think people like her are a burden on society. I feel sorry for this family but under the new HC law, there will be many more stories like this unless it is repealed and it must be.

      Report Post » Publius Novus  
    • Wolf
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:13pm

      Yup, welcome to socialized medicine.
      Who do these Turd lovers think they are to jusdge a person‘s ’quality of life‘ or deny them something that could improve that same ’quality of life’?
      Oh, right- 53% of Amerikans.
      Color me disgusted.

      Report Post »  
    • hcartexas
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:36pm

      PUBLIS NOVIS… Retared people are a burden to society by every definiton……..Facts are stubborn, even when they are uncomfortable.

      Report Post » hcartexas  
    • mrsmileyface
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:56pm

      This is for the people who like to point out stubborn little facts like HcartTexas. Who the hell are you to say that one life is worth less than another. Personally its way above my pay grade or anyone elses to decide who lives and who dies. If there is an organ for this child then it should be utilized. Otherwise we have reverted back to the stone age both mentally and socially. Welcome to the first chapter of Obamacare.

      Report Post » mrsmileyface  
  • shandog
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:02pm

    My heart goes out to this family. It hits very close to home for me. I only hope a solution can be found for the lifesaving procedure to save the girl. “As the doctor confirms what he was saying, Rivera told him that a family member planned on donating but was told this was not a solution either” If a family member is donating they have no right to refuse the transplant request. Who determines which life is precious? The kidney foundation? A doctor? A panel of doctors? A gulag?

    Report Post » shandog  
  • franknorth2010
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:00pm

    I have to agree with Lisa Belkin on this one, unless of course Amelia has a family member that’s a good tissue match agree to donate one of theirs. She very likely won’t live to see 30 anyway, and like Ms. Belkin said, an organ donation from a stranger truly would be a wasted organ when compared to the greater good it could do for someone else.

    Report Post »  
    • thekuligs
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:20pm

      Did you READ the article? It says a family memeber was going to be the donor!

      Report Post » thekuligs  
    • franknorth2010
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:39pm

      And of course I read the article. It stated that there was a family member willing to donate one of their kidneys. It did *not* say that it was a *viable* donation or whether or not that family member was a good match. Did you read my post? I said IF the family member’s organ was a good match then of course they should do the transplant…but I think there should be another condition here as well….IF the family can also PAY for the operation and not the taxpayer.

      Report Post »  
    • thekuligs
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:48pm

      “As the doctor confirms what he was saying, Rivera told him that a family member planed on donating but was told this was not a solution either”

      Does this not seem like they already had a specific donor to you?

      Report Post » thekuligs  
    • franknorth2010
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:04pm

      The family had a donor planned. that doesnt mean the donor worked out as being a good tissue match….and as a matter of fact, I contacted several people involved with the case and found out that they WERE NOT a valid tissue match. That was why the option was rejected. Sorry.

      Report Post »  
    • TiredinAZ
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:47pm

      So, FRANKNORTH2010, who violated HIPPA laws and provided this information to you?

      Report Post » TiredinAZ  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:56pm

    This is the “care” old, young, misshapen, malformed, SICK, ILL people can expect under obamanation’s watch.

    The beginning of the end if GOD HIMSELF does not step in. On our knees CHRISTIANS.

    Report Post »  
    • Saintfyre
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:03pm

      Do you realize how foolish you sound? This “care” is in the best interest of the other 10,000 people who are actually able to get full use out of a kidney.

      It would be a great and magical world if this girl could get a kidney, but the cold hard fact is that a Kidney is not going to fix her brain damage. In your world the Dad of 3 who works full time and needs a kidney can‘t get one because he’s not a precious angel that looks cute in a picture?

      It’s a sad world, and Obamacare has nothing to do with this. Pray for the little girl and her family that she doesn’t suffer in the end.

      Report Post »  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on January 18, 2012 at 6:38am

      Kickagrandma, you are right, and this is just the start. As soon as we start down this slippery slope, there will be no getting back. Who decides someone else’s “quality of life”? As health care is rationed under oborrowcare, how far will the quality of life denial go? And if the quality of life is “deemed” bad enough, how soon will these people be designated as live and healthy donors? After all, they are miserable and we would be putting them out of their misery, and just think of the wonderful life their organs would be providing for the other more privileged who have so much more to enjoy! Will sound perfectly legit to the elite, won’t it? Think about it, all those miserable people with disabilities of all sorts, the miserable poor people, all those miserable people in prisons. No shortage of organs, and all those people off the “dole”, two birds with one stone! I’m gonna go throw up now.

      Report Post »  
  • Ron Staiger
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:56pm

    In October 1939, Hitler initiated a decree which empowered physicians to grant a “mercy death”to “patients considered incurable according to the best available human judgment of their state of health.“ The intent of the socalled ”euthanasia” program, however, was not to relieve the suffering of the chronically ill. The Nazi regime used the term as a euphemism: its aim was to exterminate the mentally ill and the handicapped, thus “cleansing” the “Aryan” race of persons considered genetically defective and a financial burden to society. The idea of killing the incurably ill was posed well before 1939. In the 1920s, debate on this issue centered on a book coauthored by Alfred Hoche, a noted psychiatrist, and Karl Binding, a prominent scholar of criminal law. They argued that economic savings justified the killing of “useless lives” (“idiots” and “congenitally crippled”). Economic deprivation during World War I provided the context for this idea. During the war, patients in asylums had ranked low on the list for rationing of food and medical supplies, and as a result, many died from starvation or disease. Fearful of public reaction, the Nazi regime never proposed a formal “euthanasia” law. Unlike the forced sterilizations, the killing of patients in mental asylums and other institutions was carried out in secrecy. The code name was “Operation T4,” a reference to Tiergartenstrasse 4, the address of the Berlin Chancellery offices where the program was headquarte

    Report Post »  
  • kilwil888
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:56pm

    How about those “never will happen” death panels? BTW, I was a drunk who was blessed with a transplant 17 years ago and have been sober for twenty. There are always exceptions to rules, especially for children.

    Report Post » kilwil888  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:55pm

    .
    Obama Care is starting to kick in……..

    They believe the Organ should go to someone that can be productive…………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • I am Celexa
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:46pm

    For the love of God, please help this little girl, who deserves a chance in life like every human being on this earth. God bless her and her family.

    Report Post »  
    • charleyrocks
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:55pm

      No problem in Canada. And it’s free!!!! paid for by high taxes and they are fine with it, it helps everyone.

      Report Post » charleyrocks  
    • Usa1Ing
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:59pm

      Except in Canada you would die waiting for the operation.

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:01pm

      totally outrageous-people should be disrupting government till they do something about this unamerican nazi eugenics doctor.Where are all the non profits that people give tons of money to -they should be fiighting this flagrant human rights violation and exposing it .

      Report Post »  
    • franknorth2010
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:45pm

      “For the Love of God” is why this little girl should NOT get a transplant unless the organ comes from a member of her family. God is obviously trying to end her suffering and low life quality by bringing her back to him. One could argue that her family trying to take a sacrificed kidney from someone other than a willing genetically-related donor would be going against God’s will.

      Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:39pm

    Wait until obamadoesn’tcare really kicks in.
    Your child may be denied antibiotics because her IQ is not high enough. Your grandparents will be denied access to anything other than minor palliative medication because they are units beyond 70 years of age. You may not be given cancer treatment because your records show you voted against obama in 2008 and 2012…
    It will be worse than any of us can imagine.
    The doctor in this case should be returned to his country of origin after being stripped of his license.

    Report Post »  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:43pm

      @I.Gaspar
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:39pm
      ‘Wait until obamadoesn’tcare really kicks in. Your child may be denied antibiotics because her IQ is not high enough.’
      ***************
      Where do you get these lies from, why do you believe them, and why would you post such lies on a public site?

      Report Post » Baikonur  
    • Countrygirl1362
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:53pm

      Was thinking the same thing. This is just a small taste of what is to come under ObamaNOcare.

      Report Post »  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:56pm

      It’s only the beginning, Sport.

      Report Post »  
    • Usa1Ing
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:57pm

      How do you know what is posted will not be true. It’s called rationing and will be doled out for all kinds of reasons dictated by the government.

      Report Post »  
    • normbal
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:00pm

      Forget about the antibiotics. With NDM-1 and other resistance genes appearing it‘s only a matter of a few years until antibiotics won’t work at all.

      As to the transplant, this is one physician who believes cooler heads should prevail and say no to this transplant for a LOT of reasons already mentioned.

      Report Post » normbal  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:04pm

      @baikonur:
      If I were on one of the panels today, I’d deny you treatment for being a libidiot.

      Report Post »  
    • DesdemonasCrew
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:09pm

      Normbal:
      I can see by your picture that you are moron. Physician: heal thyself…because Obamacare sure won’t do it. And I seriously doubt that a “physician” such as yourself could “heel” a shoe.

      Report Post » DesdemonasCrew  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:37pm

      @I.Gaspar
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:04pm
      ‘baikonur: If I were on one of the panels today, I’d deny you treatment for being a libidiot.’
      *******************
      No doubt you would. I am not worried. Health care professionals are chosen from the best and the brightest. And the nativist paleo-conservative racist anti-semitic fanatical Protestant nuts hardly quailify.

      Report Post » Baikonur  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:09pm

      baki
      You are truly a misguided little twit.
      Brain injury?

      Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:38pm

    I don‘t think I could ever be in a situation to make the decision of who gets a transplant and who doesn’t. The straight math means someone is going to be screwed over: “The National Kidney Foundation tells us that 104,748 people are currently waiting for a transplant of some kind right now and 4000 names are added to that list each month. Today — every single day — 18 people will die while waiting.”

    I think I’d take to drink or drugs if it was my job to tell these parents that their 3 year old has less of a chance of a successful transplant than, say, an otherwise healthy teenager or a mother with several children waiting for her at home. It effectively means a death sentence for the child, but choosing a worse prospect over a better one could mean two lives will be lost. The logic doesn’t make such news any easier.

    Hopefully someone will find a way to get this child her operation.

    Report Post »  
    • AxelPhantom
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:03pm

      Because the donor is a family member, the logic is different.

      If Amelia doesn’t get the kidney, no one else will be getting one either. The donation is personally being offered, only to Amelia. The doctors just refuse to do the operation because they believe it will ultimately fail, not because someone else has a better chance with this particular kidney.

      Report Post »  
    • shandog
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:05pm

      I agree 100%. Well said.

      Report Post » shandog  
  • hauschild
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:30pm

    Wait ’till Marxist Care has been going strong for about 10 years. It’ll make this case seem like no big deal.

    Report Post »  
    • mr molotov cocktail
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:34pm

      communism marxism would give this child a transplant over a old person who has very few years left of life.. over a drug-addict boozer anyday!

      Report Post » mr molotov cocktail  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:40pm

      This is CRIMINAL! We’d better get behind the nominee and get the commies out of our government! AND, after we do, we need to begin an onslaught of investigations into the crimes against the American People that have been taking place, hand out indictments and send most of DC to jail! And, I’m not just ranting…I’m dead serious! Enough is ENOUGH!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:46pm

      FURTHERMORE, we’d all do well to begin selecting a location in this country where you are most likely to be among those who have like morals and values and certainly CONSTITUTIONAL principles that are compatible with our Founding Fathers and God! We have a lot of cleaning up to do and I believe we will need to completely rebuild our government, beginning at the local levels! If these parents want to fight this in the midst of the sorrow they are enduring, what are the chances that this could come up against a liberal judge who rules in favor of the hospital? Scary…and…CRIMINAL!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Locked
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:52pm

      @AZdebi

      “This is CRIMINAL!”

      Quite possibly. If it was due to the cognitive abilities (deficiencies?) of the child, then it would be illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, the doctor did seem to have a point: the girl has limited mobility, and her conditions mean she’s in a greater danger than an otherwise healthy individual who might need the transplant.

      When you have one organ and two people who need it, how do you choose? That’s the fundamental argument here.

      Report Post »  
    • franknorth2010
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 5:49pm

      If you want to rebuild the government you can start by supporting a bill that would put a term limit on congressmen and senators, and subject them to absolute income statutes and make their finances completely transparent to the voting public.

      Report Post »  
  • P8riot
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:06pm

    I had the same “death panel” thought as well!

    Report Post » P8riot  
  • juneau
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:41pm

    Ha ha, SAINTFYRE, you talk about us — the anti-Obamacare crowd — as using our hearts and not our heads. Wait a minute. Aren’t the Pro-Obamacare people the *real* compassionate ones??!!

    Report Post »  
1 2 3 4

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love