Though early reports stated that a foster child was removed from a Shands at UF organ transplant waiting list because a stable post-procedure home couldn't be guaranteed, state and ethics professionals said other medical concerns might have influenced the decision.
A Tuesday report from The Miami Herald stated that a 15-year-old child with a learning disability was removed from a list for a liver transplant because a stable two-year home could not be ensured for him following the operation.
Erin Geraghty, Florida Department of Children & Families spokeswoman, said it is her understanding that additional medical complications were taken into account by Shands, but she could not elaborate because of privacy laws. Geraghty said officials from Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital have indicated that they may be better suited to meet the boy's needs for recovery following the operation.
A representative from the hospital did not return a Wednesday phone call.
Kimberly Jameson, Shands spokeswoman, could not comment on the case because of privacy laws.
A statement was released from Shands that stated the hospital is committed to making "compassionate and responsible decisions" about patients receiving organ transplants.
"Patients are evaluated on the basis of their need for transplant and the probability of obtaining a successful outcome," the release stated.
Bill Allen, director of the Program in Bioethics, Law, and Medical Professionalism at the UF College of Medicine, did not deal with this case but said it was conceivable that a patient could be denied treatment if doctors felt the patient's lifestyle could affect the success of the procedure. Because foster children are in the care of the state, however, it is ultimately the responsibility of the state, not the hospital, to ensure a stable living environment, Allen said.
Allen did not know the severity of the child's learning disability but said that can also be a consideration in deciding eligibility. Patients must have the competency to keep up with medications after procedures, though this is not usually a determining factor.
"With appropriate help and support, that shouldn't absolutely disqualify someone," he said.
