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The University of Hospital denied a double-lung transplant to a teen on the basis that he was using marijuana.
It’s very hard when you know that family member is struggling with a potentially life-threatening disease. However, the situation becomes totally outrageous when you, as a parent, are informed that your son is going to die just because of a simple thing he did long ago.
The Beginning of the End
Recently, the University of Utah denied Riley Hancey’s request for double-lung transplant on the basis that he is addicted to marijuana. Hancey, a 19-year-old teen from Salt Lake City, Utah, who is also a fitness and sports aficionado, had to wrestle a few months ago with pneumonia, a condition developed shortly after the teen returned from a skiing trip.
Eventually, the 19-year-old managed to win the battle against the life-threatening disease, but at the expense of his own lungs. Only ten days after he was admitted to the hospital, Ryley’s doctors informed the teen and his family that both of his lungs collapsed as a result of pneumonia and that his only chance of survival was a double-lung transplant.
Marijuana Gets Riley Blacklisted
Riley’s family urged the doctors to do everything it takes to save their son. As a result, the doctors requested that Riley be placed on the national transplant list. However, after some time, the University of Utah told the teen and his family that his request on being placed on the transplant list for a new set of lungs was denied due to the fact that Riley’s latest bloodwork revealed that he tested positive for THC.
In the letter addressed to Riley, the University of Utah explains that the regulations prohibit the transplant committee from placing on the waiting list patients who have are addicted to alcohol, tobacco or hallucinogenic compounds.
Mark Hancey, Riley’s father leaped to his son defense and told the doctors that Riley smoked marijuana once with his friends, during their Thanksgiving Day get together. However, Mark Hancey’s appeal didn’t impress the commission.
After visiting multiple hospitals around the country for one willing to do Hancey’s transplant, Riley’s family found the University of Philadelphia’s Hospital. Riley’s was flown to Philadelphia, where the doctors acquired a set of healthy lungs from a donor and performed the transplant.
According to Riley’s father, his son’s surgery went well, and now the Salt Lake teen is recovering in the hospital’s ICU. He’s still under sedatives, the doctors declared, but he is expected to make a complete recovery and to life a happy and healthy life.
Image source: Pixabay
