Atlanta boy goes on transplant list after earlier refusal: family

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Atlanta boy goes on transplant list after earlier refusal: family

By David Beasley
ATLANTA | Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:06pm EDT

(Reuters) - A 15-year-old Atlanta boy went on the waiting list for a heart transplant two days after his family complained he was unfairly rejected because of past failure to take medicine and show up for doctor's appointments, his family told a TV station on Tuesday.

Anthony Stokes has an enlarged heart and could have less than six months to live without a transplant, his family said. Relatives told Atlanta television station WSB that Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital had reversed course and added him to the wait list on Tuesday.

The family did not say why he was uncooperative, and the hospital would neither confirm or deny the reason, citing patient privacy.

"As we stated previously, a heart transplant evaluation is an ongoing process based on the patient and his or her family's ability to meet specific transplant criteria," the hospital said on Tuesday. "Our physician experts are continuing to work with this family to establish a care plan and determine the best next steps for the patient."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/13/us-usa-georgia-heart-idUSBRE97C0YY20130813

Earlier in LBN: Dying Black Teen Denied Heart Transplant Due Partly to Low Grades and Trouble With the Law

[Gman]

1. I sure hope the hospital is making the right decision.

Someone else that could live for years with it sure needs it. The criteria to be a candidate is clear. I'm sure this was communicated long ago. I don't think it was a surprise to the parents that he was off the list.

[Niceguy1]

2. hipe he follows through

And doesn't waste the gift he might receive.

[Gman]

3. Exactly

My sister in law got kicked off the list for being a poor patient. Too many emergency room visits and other stuff and not caring. She died, as she wanted to. Long story.

[dembotoz]

4. maybe he will have a change of heart.....im here all week folks but seriously

do hope he cleans up his act

[BlueCheese]

5. I don't know enough about this case.

But I'm somewhat uncomfortable with public outcries leading to changes in transplant priorities. As sad as it is, organ transplants are zero-sum-- if any one person gets an organ, somebody else will go without it.