Toddler Denied Kidney Transplant After Father Violates His Probation
A 2-year-old toddler in Georgia has been denied a kidney transplant because his fathered violated his probation.
Anthony Dickerson is a perfect match and was all set to donate one of his kidneys to his son, but after he was jailed for violating his probation, Emory Hospital in Atlanta now refuses to perform the surgery.
Via NY Daily News:
Dickerson was prepared to donate his kidney in early October after being released from prison. But he returned to jail due to a parole violation for possessing a firearm “during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies,” WGCL reports.
Emory hospital told the family that Dickerson had to be on good behavior for three to four months before he could donate his kidney and that they will re-evaluate him in 2018, according to the report.
The hospital could not comment on specific patients’ cases. But Janet Christenbury, director of media relations, told the Daily News that guidelines for organ transplantation are meant “to maximize the chance of success for organ recipients and minimize risk for living donors.”
“Transplant decisions regarding donors are made based on many medical, social and psychological factors,” she said.
A.J.’s mother Carmella worries that waiting until 2018 may be too late for her young son. She told CBS news that A.J. needs bladder surgery and his body is failing.
The family’s other option is for A.J. to join the kidney transplant waiting list — but that could take years. The National Kidney Foundation said once a patient is on the waitlist, it takes three to five years on average to get a transplant, but children get priority.