Hours after learning that an undocumented women who has lived in Portland for 30 years had been denied a liver transplant because of her immigration status, Oregon Health and Sciences University terminated the policy that caused the denial and apologized for the incident. Silvia Lesama-Santos, 46, a stay-at-home mother of four children ranging in age from four to 21, received a letter from OHSU on Tuesday. Though Lesama-Santos is insured through her husband, the letter stated that she "must have lawful presence." On Tuesday evening, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon sent out a press release about Lesama-Santos situation. "My mother's only chance at survival is to receive a liver transplant, but OHSU has denied her because she is undocumented," Ivan Gonzalez Lesama, her son, said in the release. "They won't even let her get on the waiting list while we look for another hospital who will help her." Mat dos Santos, legal director at the ACLU of Oregon called OHSU's policy of denying care based on immigration status "cruel and inhumane." Later that same evening, however, OHSU put out their own statement. "It was brought to our attention this evening that an archaic transplant policy was preventing an undocumented individual from being evaluated at OHSU," it read. "Upon learning of the policy, OHSU leaders acted immediately and terminated the policy. We deeply regret the pain this has caused the family." "The OHSU transplant team is informing the family of our change in policy tonight," the statement continued. "OHSU's legal team has begun a system-wide audit to ensure no other such policies exist." Lesama-Santos and her family have been informed of the change in policy, ACLU spokesperson Sarah Armstrong confirmed Wednesday morning. "They also learned they were accepted to a hospital in Seattle," she added. Even with the good news about the transplant possibility, the family still faces uncertainty. It's unclear at this point, Armstrong said, whether Lesama-Santos is healthy enough to travel to Seattle, or even healthy enough to get the transplant at OHSU. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/02/ohsu_apologizes_for_archaic_po.html
Yep she has insurance so give her the liver. Agree with bodyman though in that she shouldn't be here.
Years ago I met the very first person at OHSU to get a liver transplant. She had this special medallion around her neck. She was showing it to everyone as she was stumbling drunk as fuck around a bar. Nice to see putting her liver and second chance at life to good use.
I'd hate to have to be at OHSU (cough, any more) because you can die of non-treatment while your looking for parking in that f'in place.
Illegals are the main reason legal Americans cannot afford health insurance. Also why car insurance is so high. OHSU just lost my measly intermittent donations.
Used to live in Rock Creek near the Nike campus in Portland. Had a bunch of Russians families who lived there who washed their cars HABITUALLY. Like every few days. Would always see the guy outs wiping away and I wanted to say "Listen, I know you love your car but your going to take the paint off at this rate." I don't know if it's a status thing in their society. Or the American dream to own a vehicle that actually has parts you don't have to remove for fear of overuse.... but wow, man.
So now the policy is clear, put anyone on the list. What stops the whole world for just coming to Oregon for a liver transplant that most places won't give them? Will this make the line long enough, that your chances are slim even if you get on the list? Who funds OHSU?
So they put anyone on the list that can pay? They are completely sufficient? Not quite sure what this story is about then, except it is not clear why you had to be a resident in the first place. At one time they were part of the University of Oregon.
So then it is their call. The can put anyone on the list they feel is appropriate. But that leaves them using the few livers donations available as they see fit. This does not seem right.
