U.S. liver transplants for Japanese gang members.
By polachicago
@polachicago (18716)
United States
June 2, 2008 7:22pm CST
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080530-0015-ca-livertransplant-japanesegangsters.html
U.S. transplant rules do not prohibit hospitals from performing transplants on either foreign patients or those with criminal histories.
The four surgeries were done between 2000 and 2004 at a time of pronounced organ scarcity. In each of those years, more than 100 patients died awaiting liver transplants in the Greater Los Angeles region.
I think that American Health system is very sick.
What can be done to stop hospital from such practices?
3 people like this
4 responses
@gantwick (849)
• United States
3 Jun 08
Words fail me (which is rare). I honestly don't know what to say. My heart goes out to the families that suffered and to the families that continue to suffer. The insurance companies make huge amounts of money and seem to be making all the rules.
3 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
3 Jun 08
In this case, hospital was only about making money, regardless of American citizens waiting for transplant....
3 people like this
@Ohara_1983 (4117)
• Kuwait
3 Jun 08
I think we cannot make those hospital stop. but we are hoping those poor people that they made a transplant will be ok. just we can give a help by prayer to them.
3 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
5 Jun 08
as we know prayer is too late for most of them...
2 people like this
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
7 Jun 08
Because the US hospitals are for-profit,money speaks.If the patients that are waiting for liver(or heart or any other type of)transplants,they need to first show the money.when you run a service on this basis,then of course those who can not afford it get the left overs.That I am afraid is reality in the US.And even if you have so-called universal health care(like Canada),the rich get around it and being bumped up or just going to another country(like those Japanese did) and pay for it.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
7 Jun 08
Transplant are different. Transplants are from non profit source for even distribution....
There are Organ Transplant Programs overseen by federal agencies.
