Sebelius: I can’t suspend the lung-transplant rules for a dying 10-year-old

Hotair ^ | 06/04/2013 | AllahPundit

[oincobx]

It is not the government that says no, it is the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. They set the policy on ages. Her doctors want to go ahead if an adult lung becomes available. However, the procedure comes with more risk than if implanted into an adult because the lung must be shaved down in size.

[chris37]

"So what do you say to the children of the adult that might otherwise have been the recipient and may perhaps live another 50 years with a transplant."

Nothing. Might doesn't matter. She is about to die now. May doesn't matter either, because they also may not. It seems to me the person closest to death's door is the person who needs it most.

"What basis are you using to determine that the minutes for this family more valuable than other families?"

I am using the basis that she has few minutes left if nothing is done.

If there are other patients as close to death as she is, then they would need to be considered too, but I think telling her family that she doesn't qualify because she is too young is nonsense.

[chris37]

How did it become federal regulation though? To me the government being involved is a huge problem.

It should only be doctors involved. Government has no business here.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It sounds almost like Sebelius is saying “well, if I am compassionate here, then the whole country will be begging me to be compassionate and that will Never Ever Do!”

[Earthdweller]

Just another heartless government drone proclaiming a death sentence using "the rules". Nothing to see here...

What is the difference between these bureaucratic robots and executioners?

[montanajoe]

“then the whole country will be begging me to be compassionate and that will Never Ever Do”

Can we as a nation afford compassion whether by a Democrat or a Republican public official any more?

I think we cannot..

[Errant]

It’s what happens when you have the “wrong” person in charge of something like this - if you follow my drift. Job description should require someone able to make a decision without having to consult the damn manual.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Well her arbitrariness (I don’t think it is being asked that a lung an adult actually CAN use will be given to the child) is bothersome even while wondering how she got put in the spot. She’s in it, now if there’s a lung the child can use that an adult can’t, do the right thing already lady.

[Errant]

We’re so GD broke, an operation for one little 12 yo girl isn’t going to make one iota bit of difference. You find a lung, we’ll get the money. I’m ready to contribute! Bet thousands of others are as well!!

[frickin_frackin]

If the rule (albeit a sucky rule that should be broken when some kid’s life is on the line) was in place in 2005, doesn’t that pre-date the “death panels” thing?

[oincobx]

>>>How did it become federal regulation though? To me the government being involved is a huge problem.

Transplant policy in the US is made and administered by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network working with the United Network for Organ Sharing under contract with HHS. OPTN has expert committees that draft proposals and submit them for public comment. What folks are calling for here is for the Secretary to overrule the OPTN decisions and procedures.

[Nowhere Man]

The spawn of idiot former Ohio gov. Gilligan.

She is proof that Gilligan slept with Ginger. B-) /sarc>

For those who are in Rio Linda or lefties, note "Gilligan's Island" reference.

BTW, there is no escape from "HHS Gilligan's Island." B-P

[Gene Eric]

Govt is responsible for limiting health care resources. There’s no good reason why this child is being denied the chance to survive.

[TChad]

Someone call Michael Bloomberg to tell him that a few chump change millions from him will save this girl

You probably aren't serious, but to my personal knowledge Bloomberg does sometimes pay for expensive medical care for people who can't afford it. Might be worth a shot.

[kiltie65]

Hey, Butterdezillion. Betcha’ she could get a Hawaiian birth certificate stating that she’s the right age!

[montanajoe]

We are dealing with limited resources here..limited organs limited funds. No matter who makes the decision there will always be those who will say the decision is arbitrary. I don’t think the problem really is with the decision maker but with the inability of so many in this country to grasp the simple fact that the country as a whole cannot possibly afford to make everybody well...

[Earthdweller]

"...was in place in 2005, doesn’t that pre-date the “death panels” thing?"

Back then, children could not handle an adult lung in their body...now they can with new technology. But the "rules" can't be broken for just one ten year old..so says her executioner.

[oincobx]

>>Well her arbitrariness (I don’t think it is being asked that a lung an adult actually CAN use will be given to the child)

But that is part of the issue. She could take a lung an adult actually CAN use. And the success rate of such surgeries with children is lower because the lung has to be shaved to fit into the child.

I don't have any idea on these numbers, but suppose the success rate is say 80% for an adult receiving an adult lung, but drops to say 40% for a child receiving an adult lung. Do you consider that at all in the equation of who gets this scarce resource?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Well look at the scenario I am speaking of: lung appears, matches are done, it will match the child, it will not match any adult needing it. So in your book the proper and right thing is: throw it away. In the larger picture the docs and legislators and whatever should fix this partition between the adults and children where a cross-adaptation is feasible. But there is such a thing as standing so firm on “principle” that you become an ass.

[montanajoe]

“There’s no good reason why this child is being denied the chance to survive”

Fraid there is its called economics..look it up