In Transplant News This Past Week...

This past week has been filled with appalling headlines. Both of which I'd known about earlier on. But one thing has become "official", whereas the other news of noting is still "in the works". In the end, both stories go against ethics of humanity and ethics within the Transplant world.

First of all, let's talk about the (ahem) 'lovely' Janet Brewer, Governor of Arizona and her cuts that SHE passed in to affect.

I'd written a piece about her and what her plans were a while back in regards to those that are waiting on organs and are served by the state's Medicaid Assistance. To read that post, CLICK HERE.

Now, these "Death Panels" have been officially put in to place. The cards are all laid out. And HUNDREDS of Arizona citizens that are waiting on a LIFE SAVING organ transplant will NOT live long enough to get it.

Why? Because the worst of the worst will be removed from the Waiting List, and are on Medicaid Assistance in the state of Arizona.

Governor Brewer signed in to affect, budget cuts to "save money" in her state. One of those slashes were to Medicaid. And primarily those waiting on an Organ Transplant.

To read the latest article on it, CLICK HERE. This is an older article, yes, But now Janet Brewer has set in to motion, a wave of death.

Now, as for the other article that has been capturing my attention, and has for some time now, as the story has been unfolding is the story of the two sisters from Mississippi who were sentenced to LIFE in prison for their crimes, but were RELEASED after serving sixteen years, on ONE condition... That one sister IS to donate a kidney to the other, who's own kidney is failing.

Apparently, the judge that ordered this "new sentence" is not very well versed in the rules, regulations, ethics and overall practices of Organ Donation. Because if the idiot was, he would KNOW that to FORCE anyone to be an organ donor (especially when it's NOT known at the time if indeed the sisters are an actual match) is considered unlawful and goes against EVERYTHING that UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) stands for and has laid out as the procedures to give and receive organs.

To read the article in reference to the criminal sisters who got off on a strange "technicality", CLICK HERE.

They were ALLOWED to move out of state (which normally is a no-no with Probation). But the transplant cannot take place until they BOTH lose weight. And hey, they get a PERSONAL TRAINER for that, and Gastric Bypass Surgery. Then of course, the Organ Transplant Surgery.

Like the doctors, I'd REALLY love to know WHO is going to pay for this? It's obvious that neither of them have medical insurance. And by my understanding of practice, the patient MUST have some kind of medical insurance to be approved as a Recipient.

Plus the Judge who ordered this weird release states that the transplant MUST happen within a year, or (hypothetically) they will be sent BACK to prison. WTF?? I say that they should have NEVER left on these types of terms.

Maybe I should have been imprisoned BEFORE my transplant that I had for my eye. Then all MY bills would be paid FOR me. Instead, I have pretty good insurance, but still stuck with on-going bills for the REST OF MY LIFE for the transplant its self and for the lifelong, on-going care I will need (and possibly ANOTHER Corneal Transplant down the road). Because apparently, it PAYS to be in prison these days, instead of a "punishment".

Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords

Today, a tragedy had struck in Arizona. Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, along with 17 other people have been shot. One of them a 9-year-old girl. She died of her injuries, as did Federal Court Judge John Roll, who also was killed in the gun fire.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09giffords.html?hp

Giffords was at a Safeway Supermarket, holding a meeting with her constituents in regards to get their opinion on the topics that were at top list for when the House reconvened.

That's when shooter, twenty-two-year-old Jared Lee Loughner opened fire. One of the shots went in to Congresswoman Giffords' head. She was taken to the hospital and went immediately to surgery.

And almost as immediately, the political fighting began.

Now, the leftists are attacking the right. Vise versa. Most (including myself in all honesty) place blame on the Tea-Party and their influencing of "hatred" towards those that are not ultra-conservative like themselves for "turning" people in to killing machines.

Hello, people!! People, everyday citizens of our society (like the INNOCENT girl), as well as well-known politicos (like Judge Roll) are DEAD. And now, all people can do on news boards, FaceBook pages, Twitter tweets and other media-type and social-networks is duke it out with the opposing party?

Classless and tasteless, if you ask me. I can say that in my own mind what I THINK drove this shooter to the breaking point. And that is Illegal Immigration and possibly even the cut backs that are in the news in concern to Death Panels in their state (Medicaid coverage).

But to blame an entire Political Party for what ONE person did? That is just too far fetched and just outlandish.

Instead of fighting amongst yourselves in the Political Ring, why not instead extend your sympathy to the families that have now lost loved ones? And also extend empathy, encouragement and hope to those who are still alive, but are injured and may be fighting for their lives?

Like Giffords, who is out of surgery, in critical, but stable condition.

It's called being a HUMAN BEING, instead of a political fan club member.