Local medical experts concerned about organ transplant ruling
KGMB Hawaii | By Mileka Lincoln
Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -Across the country, and here in Hawai'i, thousands of patients waiting for an organ transplant are anxiously watching an unfolding legal drama. For the second time in two days, a federal judge is allowing a child to go on an adult lung transplant waiting list, while also keeping a priority spot on the pediatric list.
There are two waiting lists for lung transplants â€" one for children under 12, and one for everyone else. Kids usually wait longer for transplants because there are fewer organs available and until now, they haven't been allowed on the adult waiting lists.
But the recent rulings concern local medical experts who believe the judge's order will set a risky precedent. They say these decisions shouldn't be made by the courts, but by doctors.
"The sad fact is there are not enough organs for all that are waiting. People die waiting for organ transplant," explained Felicia Wells-Williams, the Director of Family Services at Legacy of Life Hawai'i. The non-profit organization helps recover organs and tissue for transplant. Wells-Williams says the court's decision raises questions about fairness and could undermine the integrity of the existing organ allocation process.
"The system that we have in place is really intended to be fair. It is intended to make that scarce resource available to all who are a potential candidate for it," described Wells-Williams.
There are two waiting lists for lung transplants â€" one for children under 12, and one for everyone else. Kids usually wait longer for transplants because there are fewer organs available and until now, they haven't been allowed on the adult waiting lists.
But the recent rulings concern local medical experts who believe the judge's order will set a risky precedent. They say these decisions shouldn't be made by the courts, but by doctors.
"The sad fact is there are not enough organs for all that are waiting. People die waiting for organ transplant," explained Felicia Wells-Williams, the Director of Family Services at Legacy of Life Hawai'i. The non-profit organization helps recover organs and tissue for transplant. Wells-Williams says the court's decision raises questions about fairness and could undermine the integrity of the existing organ allocation process.
"The system that we have in place is really intended to be fair. It is intended to make that scarce resource available to all who are a potential candidate for it," described Wells-Williams.
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