Family of girl needing lung transplant 'excited' by ruling

[Grins]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- The father of a 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl who desperately needs new lungs told CNN on Wednesday night the family was "very excited" after a judge's ruling that could help his daughter get a transplant.

...On Wednesday, the family asked a federal judge to issue a restraining order to block U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from having the agency that oversees transplants apply a policy that keeps children younger than 12 from being prioritized for available adult lung transplants.

The judge granted the injunction and ordered Sebelius to direct the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to waive the rule in Sarah's case. The injunction is valid for 10 days.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/05/health/pennsylvania-girl-lungs/

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I can't wait to hear the screaming outrage from the Reich-wingers over this "Death Panel".

[gussmith]

1. For the Best

Arbitrary rules are not good when a specific hurt can be acknowledged. If there are other 10-year olds who need a lung transplant, the policy needs to be reassessed. Well, the policy needs to be reassessed anyway.

[Xithras]

2. Not really

The rule is in place because children under 12 have a substantially higher mortality rate when receiving transplant lungs from adult donors. UNOS doesn't simply direct organs to those who have been on the list the longest, but also those who have the HIGHEST chance of actually surviving the surgeries and who have the greatest need. The prohibition on adult lungs for those under 12 was applied because, more often than not, the kid dies. When that happens, the lungs are wasted, and the older potential recipients who COULD have received them and survived will often die as well.

The rules exist for a reason. It's not about fairness, but about effectiveness. These narcissistic parents want the rules waived (and want to kill someone else's son/daughter/father/mother) because they want to take a shot at the fairly small chance that it will work out for them.

[LiberalFighter]

4. I agree especially with your last paragraph.

Someone will suffer. A judge should not be stepping in so someone else can get in front of the line and in the process kill someone else.

My sympathy towards others is based in part on what is right. And that family has lost most of my sympathy towards them.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

5. Thanks for posting this.

I kept thinking, what if one of my adult sons was on the waiting list and stood a good chance of surviving after the transplant, but the 10 year old had them instead......and she died because adult lungs don't fit in a 10 year old's body. The parents are narcissistic.

[Boxturtle]

6. This has been covered extensively in the local news in my area.

The 10 year old girl is in the final stages of cystic fibrosis and is not going to live much longer without a lung transplant. I have a 9 year old daughter and would do the exact same thing if there were no other options. It's not about narcissim, it's about keeping your loved one alive.

[telclaven]

7. I understand these parents though

If it was my daughter (or son), I'd be holding doctors hostage if need be (great movie btw). There is absolutely nothing I wouldn't do to save their life.

I get it, the facts of the matter are that if their daughter lives, someone else dies. That doesn't diminish the emotional impact. Calling them narcisists is to deny all human emotion and expect herculian displays of logic.

[RudynJack]

10. nor will she live long

WITH the transplant. It won't fix her cf.

[alphafemale]

15. True. The child is dying the lungs should have gone to someone they may have helped.

Medical decisions should not be based on how well someone conducts a media campaign.

It is a tragedy now compounded by a set of lungs being wasted. And another family standing around a grave when they might have been standing in a backyard at a birthday party.

[Xithras]

11. But it is narcissism

The odds of her surviving the surgery are relatively low. The odds that she'll survive more than a few years are effectively zero. In spite of that, they're willing to take the lungs from others with more transient illnesses (like lung cancer) who could have lived a long, full life with them. They are willing to end the lives of others, including teenagers who COULD have survived, just so that they can spend a few extra weeks or months with her.

They are concerned only with themselves, and don't care about the long term negative impact that their decisions are going to have on other patients and families.

[graham4anything]

3. I keep thinking of Mickey Mantle.

and I keep thinking of the person who was bumped who was not able able to wait another day when Mickey Mantle moved to the front of the line (and then Mickey died shortly afterward anyhow).

Wouldn't a better answer be more artificial organs?


BTW, people can live with only one lung...couldn't a family member donate one of theirs? (asking this seriously, I know with other organs this is done.)

edit to add- Pope Francis only has one lung.

[Demit]

8. People with Cystic Fibrosis need two new lungs (bilateral transplant), I read. One won't do it.

[geologic]

9. Is Pennsylvania a death penalty state???

By involving himself--
this judge just sentenced someone to death...

[pitbullgirl1965]

12. What garbage.

I was under the assumption that only the most qualified received organs, based on science, not sentiment.

[AnneD]

13. I hate to be a wet blanket here...

but these are a few facts I know from years of pediatric Nursing...

Kids needing multiple organ transplants are bound to die, sooner than later even with the transplants. There is usually genetic or some other factors at the root and until gene therapy is a reality, this is money and organs down the drain-a band aid for an amputation. I am not hard hearted but a realist. The waiting line for organs esp from folks that are healthy in ever other way is long and you want to get the biggest bang for the buck.

I know that sounds mean, but I have seen too much. I believe in basic universal care for all, but ins. picking up the extras like non medical plastic surgery and multiple organ transplants, etc.

I wish the family well, but life comes with no guarantees and you get the time allotted to you no more no less. I am thankful for medical progress but some things are still beyond our capacity.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. I would like to be happy for this family

but not at the expense of other children whom have potentially lost out on an opportunity for a transplant simply because these parents were able to attract significant media and political attention for their own situation. The 'rule' may need to be reviewed and revised but it shouldn't be arbitrarily lifted by a Judge in this one instance. It's a sad, sad situation but the 'rules' are there for a legitimate reason, not to mention the fact, developed by people with scientific and medical expertise and based on what is likely to help the maximum number of people at any given time. This Judge shouldn't have intervened IMHO.

[alarimer]

16. I'm sorry for the family but that policy exists for a reason.

Organs are a limited resource and they should go to those who would most benefit and have the likeliest chance at survival.

Once we start making exceptions, then anything can happen.