A second person denied transplant coverage by Arizona under a state budget cut has died, with this death "most likely" resulting from the coverage reduction, a Tucson hospital said Wednesday.
University Medical Center spokeswoman Jo Marie Gellerman said the patient died Dec. 28 at another medical facility after earlier being removed from UMC's list for a liver transplant needed because of hepatitis C.
Gellerman cited medical privacy requirements in declining to release any information about the patient.
Arizona reduced Medicaid coverage for transplants on Oct. 1 under cuts included to help close a shortfall in the state budget enacted last spring.
Hospital officials said the patient's death "most likely" resulted from Arizona's scaling back coverage for transplants, she said.
It's impossible to say with 100 percent certainty whether the patient would have died anyway, Gellerman said, "but we do know that his condition has gotten more severe since he was taken off the list."
The patient's worsening condition would have elevated his place on the list, she added.
A Phoenix-area man, Mark Price, died Nov. 28 of complications from preparation for a bone-marrow transplant that was to be privately funded. That funding was provided anonymously after The Associated Press and other media outlets reported that he was notified of two possible donors on Oct. 1, the same day the coverage was reduced.
The second person's death was reported by KOLD-TV in Tucson and the Arizona Guardian.
Slabside posted at 2:30 pm on Fri, Jan 7, 2011.
"Hospital officials said the patient's death "most likely" resulted from Arizona's scaling back coverage for transplants, she said." In other words, they don't know.
rrjenn posted at 10:40 am on Fri, Jan 7, 2011.
VivaSB1070, excellent points. Why should we all have to pay for someone like Rich to have liposuction on his head to remove the cr*p when he's spent his entire life filling it with said same cr*p. These are nanny staters who want the government to do everything for them from birth to death, and they think they are entitled to hundreds of thousands of dollars of other people's money so that they can have a slightly longer life. I donate my money to worthwhile causes. Stop trying to force me to give you my money.
VivaSB1070 posted at 9:45 am on Fri, Jan 7, 2011.
The majority of Hep C cases are caused by lifestyle CHOICES, i.e. engaging in risky behavior like sharing needles, injecting drugs, having unprotected sex & so forth. A much much smaller percentage of cases originated from tainted blood transfusions of long ago, human bites etc.
If this man received the organ, and by the way he was not even near the top of the waiting list, the transplanted liver would be infected with the Hep C virus within 24 hours. Then there are the added complications of anti regection drugs etc. so even with a new liver the patient may have expired quickly.
So all of you bemoaning the demise of this person - I REPEAT WHO WAS NEVER NEAR THE TOP OF THE RECIPIENT LIST ANYWAY - and since there is only a very limited amount of available organs to transplant, should the organ go to an innocent child, a hard working parent who has never engaged in risky behavior, your brother, your aunt, your neighbor, your minister, should this organ have gone to someone who could then live a healthy life, or should it have gone to this person who most likely lived a risky lifestyle and perhaps would have lived only a year or much less even with the new liver?
Rich posted at 8:17 pm on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
"Hey Rich, you always complain about Brewer not doing anything about the budget but when she does you still complain. haha you retarded monkeyboy"
That's the best you can do? You need a psychiatrist and an education in literature. "Ignorance is like a delicate fruit; touch it, and the bloom is gone."
deein623 posted at 4:23 pm on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
Being a HEP C carrier for 20+ Yrs I can attest that the day I stopped drinking and using, the virus has been managible thru healthy eating and water. No soda, Coffee, Red meat, Bleached Flour. Interferon caused a stroke but got the blood clot cleared without to much damage. Even Interferon only works well with 1/3rd the population and the odds of it coming back are great. We only have 1 body treat it good
rrjenn posted at 1:54 pm on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
Hey Rich, you always complain about Brewer not doing anything about the budget but when she does you still complain. haha you retarded monkeyboy
rrjenn posted at 1:50 pm on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
How much of your money did you give to these people so that they could get a transplant? You do understand that the bulk of these people got hep by sharing needles and having unprotected sex?
You socialist that think the state is responsible for all your needs need to get a state paid for psychiatrist. And then there's Dale who can't even get away from what the state wants to do to his illegal aliens for one moment to give us his socialist views on how the state should provide all our needs for us. I heard in England some are calling for all employment pay to be sent first to a government agency who would then make the determination as to how much each person should get. I'm betting that makes your mouths water with glee.
rrjenn posted at 1:40 pm on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
LinMesa, hasten the death of another? You mean by not giving them all your money so they can afford to pay their medical bills? How much did you give them LinMesa?
Really posted at 10:57 am on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
I am NOT going to pay the medical bills for someone else. Not enough people paying to the system to cover everyone and everything. That is life and it isn't always going to be nice. If you don't like it then move to Canada ("free" healthcare there) or move back to Mexico.
geekette posted at 8:53 am on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
Bishop Olmsted, you who claim to value life: why are you silent on this issue? The state is allowing people to die because it does not want to pay for transplants. Why won't you speak up for these peopel? Why have you said nothing?
Rich posted at 8:52 am on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
"...what is Gov. Jan Brewer gonna do about that? "
Apparently try to change the 14th Amendment. That should fix everything!
SimpleTruth posted at 7:33 am on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
I'm really hungry, what is Gov.Jan Brewer gonna do about that? My electricity got cut off, what is Gov. jan Brewer gonna do about that? I had to walk to work, what is Gov. Jan Brewer gonna do about that? I don't have a jacket & it's cold outside, what is Gov.Jan Brewer gonna do about that? I have a headache, what is Gov. Jan Brewer gonna do about that?
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:24 am on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
Why didn't this reporter give the readers the facts instead of his opinions. The Berencuer et all 2002) Study's results showed that Hepatitis-C liver transplant recipients have a survival rate of 77% after 1 year, 61% after 2-5 years and only 55% after 7 years. There isn't enough money in Arizona's current recessionary Budget for everything. The Governor must allocate funds according to the "greatest good for the greatest number". This is what political leaders are required to do when they are elected by the majority of voters. Why aren't the Churches and charitable organizations stepping up and paying for these transplant operations ($320,000.00 on average) and the subsequent costs of medical upkeep that is in the tens of thousands ($22,000.00) per year for after-surgery care?
This article is just another Liberal Journalism "cheap shot" in my books.
wdgnas posted at 6:06 am on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
this will continue to happen until it is needed by a family member of the poliliticos contributors, errrrr bribers'...
cjanego posted at 12:26 am on Thu, Jan 6, 2011.
Another medical ethical dilemma statistic. For things to change, it usually takes someone or some people to die. A person's lifestyle will determine if they are going to be denied medical care. If a person is a drug user, others will debate, that person had a choice and it is not up to the taxpayers to pay for it. Others will debate, the person is entitled to medical care no matter what but who is going to pay for it? It will never be fair to anyone.
EmperorSmith posted at 10:25 pm on Wed, Jan 5, 2011.
I will go on my journey, that is my choice. I do think transplants should be covered.
kiltie posted at 10:22 pm on Wed, Jan 5, 2011.
I received a kidney transplant over 4 years ago, and am so grateful to the family who donated their daughters organs. Because of their generousity, 8 people are now living better lives! My insurance covered all the transplant expenses, for which I am grateful. I think that Gov. Jan Brewer is denying the gift of life to people who are having financial troubles, and that is wrong. She is playing God with these people's lives, and she does not have that right. I implore Gov. Brewer not to allow these people to die. Find another area to cut back expenses. This is just so wrong. How can Gov. Brewer even look in the mirror in the morning knowing what she's doing? I pray that she will have a change of heart!
Betty posted at 8:14 pm on Wed, Jan 5, 2011.
How can a state sit around and let someone die!!!
The governor should be held accountable.
Is this a form of murder?
Nunya posted at 6:37 pm on Wed, Jan 5, 2011.
Somehow your profound comment overrides the point.
We will see if you feel the same way if you or someone very close to you needs a transplant and is denied for the same reasons in the article you failed to comprehend.
LinMesa posted at 6:25 pm on Wed, Jan 5, 2011.
No, I'm not afraid of the journey, but I would certainly not like facing my Lord knowing that I had been responsible for hastening the death of others.
EmperorSmith posted at 5:37 pm on Wed, Jan 5, 2011.
We all transcend this life one day are you afraid of the journey?