Man denied heart transplant because of his autism.

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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/autistic-m ... C6qyKNdCa4

They said there would not be death panels with the new health care law.

Someone on TV said its not discrimnation. How they figure that?

So mad about this.

That is disgusting. That article doesn't mention at all where Paul is on the spectrum. They talk about pulling out of tubes after surgery - where's the evidence?

The petition to help him here: http://www.change.org/petitions/help-my ... ransplant#

Another article here: http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-15/n ... transplant

He has PDD-NOS and seems relatively high-functioning with a good quality of life, the pulling out of tubes thing seems highly unlikely but even if it were a possibility it's no reason to deny someone life saving surgery. It's unbelievable to think that he could be denied a transplant just because of autism, it's discrimination pure and simple.

" "It seems that they have looked at this person as a label rather than the unique qualities that this person has,"Dr. Dan Coury, Autism Speaks' Medical Director for the Autism Treatment Network , told ABCNews.com. Coury said he has not met Paul or reviewed his medical records, but he is aware of the rejection from a Philadelphia Inquirer story.

He said autism is one of many factors that should be considered in the transplant decision, but based on what he's read, he isn't sure why Paul was denied. He noted that Paul can carry on a conversation, has a good quality of life and has a social network to support him after the surgery."


"The patient has to be able to take care of the new organ or have a support group to ensure that the organ doesn't go to waste, which can be an issue with mental illness, addiction and even autism, he (Dr. David Cronin, an associate professor of transplant surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin) said."


Then there's this;

"Study stirs debate over transplants for alcoholics November 9, 2011 By CARLA K. JOHNSON , AP Medical Writer in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Enlarge In this July 11, 1995 (file photo), Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle speaks to reporters during a news conference following his recovery from a liver transplant at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. More alcoholics can benefit from liver transplants, according to a new study that could boost demand and intensify debate about who should get scarce organs. Heavy drinkers with severe hepatitis usually must stay sober for six months to qualify for a new liver. But researchers found that granting transplants to some of them sooner improves their survival chances - and most stay sober years afterward. The findings reopen an old debate over who deserves desperately needed transplant organs. Celebrities with alcohol problems receiving liver transplants have sparked public outrage. In the 1990s, Larry Hagman, David Crosby and the late Mickey Mantle got transplants. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Some gravely ill alcoholics who need a liver transplant shouldn't have to prove they can stay sober for six months to get one, doctors say in a study that could intensify the debate over whether those who destroy their organs by drinking deserve new ones."

Any thoughts?
Personally, I don't get it.

It sounds like they made some bad assumptions in this decision. Autism in and of itself is not acceptable as a reason to turn him down.

The bit about the tubes was just a possibility that an outside expert offered.

"They said there would not be death panels with the new health care law. "
Good try, but this has nothing to do with the new health care law.
Transplants have been rationed for years because there aren't enough to go around.

I signed the petition. That is awful discrimination.

Wow, I cannot believe that in this day and age anyone would be so brazenly discriminating. It doesn't matter what effect the steroids would have on the patient's behaviour; if he doesn't get the surgery, he is going to die. It makes me afraid of what might happen if I ever need surgery. Will they not give it to me because I'm different? And what's this business about them being afraid of his pulling wires out? Don't they have the same risk with infants or elderly patients with dementia or schizophrenia? That is not a valid excuse at all, and at this particular moment, I am disgusted with the human race.

Hi, we also have another discussion on this same situation.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt206068.html

And I think it's important enough that it's well worth having a couple of discussions.

And we can change things. I really think with publicity, Paul Corby and his family will win and Paul will get on a transplant list, and then have the same chance as anyone else.

Medicine has been rationing organs for years. Especially hearts, which are in extremely short supply.

The hospital is going to eat a big chunk of the transplant cost because I'm guessing the man is on Medicaide/Medicare, and they don't pay crap. No incentive to transplant if you are getting $0.40 on the dollar. I have a feeling this is more about the money than anything else.

I looked up exclusions for heart transplants, and there is a huge section on psycho/social aspects. Drug addicts/alcoholics/smokers/mentally "ret*d"-yes the authors used that word", and anyone who they don't believe can comply with the grueling outpatient care and treatment plan. I'm guessing ASD fits under this part.

http://vtcardsfellows.com/pdf/Guideline ... tation.pdf

What the doctors don't want is a "noncompliant" patient or guardian of patient, getting tired to the on going treatment plan, saying f*ck it, and having the transplanted heart rejected.

In the US, health care is a business, and not a right. Kids die from not fund raising enough money for a bone marrow transplants. Cancer patients get rejected all the time by their insurance companies for treatments. I have Bipolar I, and I'm sure I would not be considered due to my psychiatric history and lack of $$$$, for a heart or lung transplant.

And before everyone dogs the dog pile on about the US sh*tty health care system, the UK rations out transplants even more.

It will be interesting if U of Pitt or Mayo even consider this case. If they do, it will be for all the great PR.

seemingly based on just a cardboard stereotype about autism.

We can do so much better.

I tend to think the UK is about three years ahead of us here in the United States as far as autism spectrum advocacy and activism. We can learn from them, doesn't mean we need to imitate everything they're do, but we can learn from them and then do good things here in the United States.

I read the article. It was mind blowing. I didn't see anything in the article that would indicate a need to refuse the young man. As for dislodging tubing, etc. during surgery, one would hope that he would be under anesthesia at the time. Would you really cut someone open for heart transplant surgery while they are conscious? How is anyone going to pull out tubes while he is out cold? DUH!! ! And he can be kept sedated and/ or restrained for a while afterwards, too.

Eugenics and it's Communist supporters strikes again. Yes I know we on the spectrum are not perfect, but neither is anyone else, including, and especially, those who denied this young man a place on the transplant waiting list.

One of the other posters, and the boys mother mentioned a petition, but there was no link to it in the article. Does anyone have the link to it? If so, please post it in this thread.

Its always about money in the USA. We do not have health care as the rest of the world knows it, unfortunately. Consider a wealthy, but alcoholic actor gets bumped months ahead of hundreds of other hopeful liver recipients. Because he begged & flashed a wallet. Basically self-inflicted wound(s) but "Money Talked".
Sad but true. Nothing at all to do with the ASD.

Sincerely,
Matthew

There are no death panels with the health care law. This decision has literally nothing to do with the affordable care act, and everything to do with the professional who chose to discriminate against this man for being autistic.

I would seriously love to know how you think this has anything to do at all with the new health care law.

I've also signed the petition.

Autism is too non-specific of a condition to be used as a factor. If there is a behavior probable that should be listed, not autism.