A Boston hospital is defending itself after a man’s family claimed he was denied a new heart for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
As new variant continue to spread across the U.S., we talk with doctors about how to live with the virus now and in the future.A Boston hospital is defending itself after a man's family claimed he was denied a new heart for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying most transplant programs around the country set similar requirements to improve patients’ chances of survival.
D.J.'s mother, Tracey Ferguson, insists that her son isn't against vaccinations, noting he's had other immunizations in the past. But the trained nurse said Wednesday that he’s been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation — an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm — and that he has concerns about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The hospital said research has shown that transplant recipients are at higher risk than non-transplant patients of dying from COVID-19, and that its policies are in line with thePatients also must meet other health and lifestyle criteria to receive donated organs, and it's unknown if D.J. Ferguson did or would have met them.
Hospitals in other states have faced similar criticism for denying transplants to patients who weren't vaccinated against COVID-19.denied a transplant "A donor heart is a precious and scarce gift which must be cared for well," said Dr. Howard Eisen, medical director for the advanced heart failure program at Penn State University in Hershey, Pennsylvania. "Our goal is to preserve patient survival and good outcomes post-transplant."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boston hospital denies heart transplant to man who hasn't gotten COVID-19 vaccineBrigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is refusing to perform a heart transplant on a man who won't get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Read more »
Boston man removed from heart transplant list for refusing to get COVID-19 vaccine, family saysA Boston man says his son has been removed from the organ transplant waiting list because he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Read more »
Hospital patient who refused COVID-19 vaccine denied heart transplantA Boston hospital is defending itself after a man’s family claimed he was denied a new heart for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Read more »
Man diagnosed with COVID-19 gets new heartDom Hill's Nov. 2020 COVID-19 diagnosis likely led to his need for a heart transplant.
Read more »
Red wine could reduce chances of COVID-19 infection, U.K. study suggestsA recent study out of the U.K. suggested consuming up to two glasses of red wine a week could lower a person’s chance of getting infected with COVID-19.
Read more »