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Transplant Eligibility Process
Does the Mayo Clinic have the 6 month rule that requires addicts to be 6 months in recovery and complete some type of addiction program (e.g., IOP) before they'll start the eligibility process?
My 24-year-old son was a patient at Vanderbilt in Tennessee and desperately needed a liver transplant. He was not allowed to start the eligibility process until he was 90 days in recovery and completed an IOP. He didn't have that kind of time to wait to start the eligibility process. He died on 2/23/2023. He shouldn't be dead. Per the AMA, substance abuse addiction is classified as a disease just like heart disease, cancer, and other diseases yet addicts are turned away and told to fix their disease and then "we'll talk and 'maybe' start the eligibility process".
The NIH is opposed to the 6 month rule or any rule. The NIH states that if a patient needs lifesaving surgery, doctors have an ethical responsibility to provide the lifesaving surgery yet many doctors ignore their ethical responsibility. It's time to change the transplant process and treat addicts the same as non-addicts. Facilities shouldn't have a 6 month rule or any rule. Instead there should be post op processes to help addicts get into recovery.
Johns Hopkins is an example of a facility that has no rule and instead has suggested post op processes to help addicts get into recovery. Johns Hopkins provides lifesaving surgery to addicts. Johns Hopkins considers an addict's life to be just as valuable as a non-addict.
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He just got out of Vanderbilt hospital in tn where we work out that they were doing an evaluation on him to see if he qualified for a liver so they were supposed to run the board his meld score is 31.
@amandagulley90
You should hear something after the board meets. They might meet each week. The 31 MELD score is well within reange for being listed, however, it is possible that some medical issues might need to be treated before being listed.
I remember how difficult it was to wait to hear from the evaluation. I hope that he is able to get some much needed rest during this time of uncertainty.
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2 ReactionsHe was turned down for 6 months he has to do 8 weeks IOP an past drug test peth an nicotine for 6 months then they will think about reevaluating him for liver transplant but I am afraid he will not make it that long they sent him home in bad shape all labs are bad I don't know what to do he is only 37
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1 Reaction@amandagulley90
I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing now that you are home. I can see that you love him very much and that this is a very difficult situation for both you and for him.
He has a big decision a to make about committing to the next 6 months for recovery. Has the doctor offered any treatment plans that are available in your area?
Do you have someone to support you? A friend? family member? church member? pastor? counselor? When I was diagnosed with end stage liver failure, I found my best support from a church friend- a cancer survivor. She ubderstood every one of my fears because she had experienced them herself. We could just talk about everything, and that helped me a lot.
Will his doctor be able to offer any relief or treatment for his current comfort?
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4 ReactionsWe are back in the hospital but this time it is fort Sanders in Knoxville again an he isn't doing good at all an no we don't have anyone but God an each other an to make matters worse we are about to move because the place I have been living for 3 years recently sold and I don't know what to do I am working 40 hrs a week trying to take care of us an it just seems like it everything is not going in our way. He isn't mentally all there he hallucinating an he is a loving caring young man and when he is awake u don't see that person I am lost with know one to talk to.
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3 Reactions@amandagulley90 Please reach out to the chaplain there at the hospital, and the social worker also. Ask forctheir guidance and help.
Ginger
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2 ReactionsI feel so very sorry for your son family and situation. My heart goes out to you folks. I am a person of faith and also a person of science big time. Sorry I don't have any technical advice for you guys. But I do know literal miracles can happen as was the case in my liver transplant last year. Prayers up to your son and your family.
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