Alright. I see that it is a network, of doctors I am assuming here, working under contract with the HHS, which means that HHS is ultimately in charge in terms of legal authority.
So that says to me Sebelius is the person who decides if the federal regulations are more important than this child’s chance at life. Doctors say go, government says no.
It not only looks bad, it is bad. HHS being involved gives the regs force of law, and that force is essentially what is keeping the child from having access to an adult lung which could be modified.
I see it like this. Since government is involved via the contract, if the government makes the decision that its regulations are more important than giving this child a chance, then they are saying that their regulations are more important than her life, and thus are a death panel.
You ask if its fair to others who may benefit from the same lung? That’s hard to say for certain, fair is subjective, elusive and may not even exist at all. But I ask is it right to deny this girl an opportunity at an adult lung because she doesn’t meet the regulated age requirement? I my answer is no.