Washington State Man Claims Hospital Refusing Transplants to the Unvaccinated

I suspect that the number of patients awaiting elective surgeries will continue to rise...the longer the hospitals are swamped with Covid patients. There may be Legal questions arising if they refuse to even admit unvaccinated patients, but that could fall under the guidelines that allow businesses to refuse unvaccinated to enter their stores, restaurants, etc. This pandemic is creating all sorts of mandatory requirements, and will continue to do so until if/when the numbers of infected decline substantially.
 

I took the time to read the hospital's rationale for this requirement. It makes perfect sense and is not a punitive measure.

When reached by Fox News for comment, the University of Washington Medicine issued the following statement:

"The safety of our patients is our primary focus and guides discussions with our patients preparing to receive a solid organ transplant knowing that they will be on medications that suppress their immune system after the transplant. Our physicians make a determination regarding vaccine recommendations and requirements, including COVID-19 vaccination, based on the risk factors of the individual patient and degree of immunosuppression they will experience. The suppression of their immune system puts them at increased risk for infections, including an increased risk for hospitalization and severe complications due to COVID-19. We also know that patients after solid organ transplant do not respond as well to the COVID-19 vaccine due to the ongoing post-transplant immunosuppression, which is why the CDC now recommends that they receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Many of these patients also have other health conditions that put them at increased risk for COVID-19, further increasing the importance of vaccination. Vaccinating patients prior to transplant increases their ability to respond to the vaccine and helps keep them safe throughout the transplant process. Patients should continue to discuss their individual risks with their doctors."
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I am amazed that the patient complaining about this is actually on a list to receive his third liver transplant. He must surely be aware of the increased risks infection because of the immunosuppressant medications he will be given. Why should a transplant hopeful who is not prepared to follow medical advice not be removed from the list? After all, you won't get a lung transplant if you refuse to stop smoking. Donated organs are a scarce resource that should not be wasted.
 
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