Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By Merv Sheppard's Transplant Network (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Hunger Strike Continues For Undocumented Immigrants Needing Organ Transplants

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.



By MyFoxChicago, Fox News Latino

Chicago –  Monday marks the seventh day of a hunger strike for protesters demanding access to organ transplants for undocumented immigrants at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

There were about 40 picketers in front of the hospital on Sunday, including the 14 people on the hunger strike.

“We’re asking for help,” said Blanca Gomez, 23, who needs a kidney transplant. “I go to dialysis three times a week. I’m not going off the hunger strike until I get on the transplant list.”

Gomez said she had lost four pounds and was surviving on water and Gatorade.

The group said 14 undocumented Mexican immigrants who live in the Chicago area need either a liver or kidney transplant. But they can’t afford it because they are denied federal health care. They are not U.S. citizens.

The protesters said they would stay until Northwestern Memorial CEO Dean Harrison agrees to a meeting.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the only hospitals in the region to offer live donor liver transplants.
On Sunday afternoon, a spokesman for Northwestern Memorial Hospital was not able to provide answers about Northwestern’s transplant policies.

The situation boils down to a moral and ethical dilemma, said Dr. David Ansell, chief medical officer at Rush University Medical Center.

“One the one hand, the intent of the national transplant registry is to base transplants on who needs them most, but there are indeed a whole group of people who find themselves shut out,” he said. “And these are people who are uninsurable, and it creates an ethical dilemma of doing the right thing against the extreme cost of doing a transplant.”

An average kidney transplant can cost between $100,000 and $200,000, Ansell said. The care needed before and after surgery, in addition to medication, can cost tens of thousands more.

“These are people who contribute to the community. The answer can’t be no access, but it’s going to require calling together all the transplant centers in the region, as well as politicians and members of the community to find an equitable solution,” Ansell said. “The other thing to note is that 20 percent of organs come from uninsured people, but around 1 percent of organs go to uninsured people who need them. These people donate the organs, but mostly don’t get access to them.”

“You Have the Power to Donate Life – Sign-up today! Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”



Source:



Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!


Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST


Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!

HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.

Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.

MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)

Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser!  Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!

Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.

Smart Meter Cover -  Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).

Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    Total 1 comment
    • Nfiltraitor

      This is stupid.
      “Undocumented?” “Uninsurable?” = “ILLEGAL ALIEN”

      Let me see if I understand.

      Foreign nationals are violating our sovereign borders, then trying to “starve themselves” onto a list so they can receive the bodily organs of our critically wounded citizens?

      Remember the part in the movie where “Hancock” looks at all the people blocking the railroad tracks, and says,
      “You’re all idiots.”

      I’m sorry, but I really feel like saying it everyday. Stop being mentally handcuffed by the smoke and mirror leaders of ours. Maybe musical chairs among the variables will help me say it.
      I’m going to go overseas and sneak into that country where that guy Putin lives. Then I’m going to go stand in front of the Kremlin and go on a hunger strike until they give me some of their citizens organs and $100k worth of medical operations. Which I will not be paying for.
      Who wants to bet I would wake up chained to a wall? Or find myself doing slave labor farming turnips? Or, maybe they would be taking bets on how long I might last…
      And hey, guess what? If I were that stupid, I wouldn’t blame them.

      In all seriousness, we put up a border for reason.
      I think we are sacrificing our grandchildren on the altar of P.C.
      Bring home the soldiers killing people in the middle east and use them to guard our border. Start shooting foreign nationals attempting to violate and bypass our border security! They will stop once we stop bending over and rolling the dice. And no, I don’t care if its harsh. The millions of our people saved will be worth it. Just one small dirty bomb, just one enemy combatant carrying a viral bioweapon or whatever.

      “Hunger strike”?
      Sit back, relax, it will fix itself.

      Think I’m an evil uncaring monster? I don’t care. I love this country. And I am sickened by the cancer that is killing us.

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.