Thread: Go Ahead, Buy An Illegal Immigrant A New Liver

Go Ahead, Buy An Illegal Immigrant A New Liver



Amy Alkon

It's your choice. Instead of leaving your money to your children, leave your money to somebody else's child who's in the country illegally, and is in need of an organ transplant. Feel free to pay what the LA Times' Anna Gorman reports is the price:

The average cost of a liver transplant and first-year follow-up is nearly $490,000, and anti-rejection medications can run more than $30,000 annually, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees transplantation nationwide.

People argue that we should give free replacement organs to illegals on humanitarian grounds. That sounds really wonderful. But, the thing is, the treatment isn't free -- well, except to the illegal immigrant, because we American taxpayers are picking up the tab. And we American taxpayers are also going to the back of the line to get transplants if we need them.

Here, from Gorman's story, is how it worked for an illegal Mexican immigrant:

Ana Puente was an infant with a liver disorder when her aunt brought her illegally to the U.S. to seek medical care. She underwent two liver transplants at UCLA Medical Center as a child in 1989 and a third in 1998, each paid for by the state.

But when Puente turned 21 last June, she aged out of her state-funded health insurance and was unable to continue treatment at UCLA.

This year, her liver began failing again and she was hospitalized at County-USC Medical Center. In her Medi-Cal application, a USC doctor wrote, "Her current clinical course is irreversible, progressive and will lead to death without another liver transplant." The application was denied.

The county gave her medication but does not have the resources to perform transplants.

Late last month Puente learned of another, little-known option for patients with certain healthcare needs. If she notified U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that she was in the country illegally, state health officials might grant her full Medi-Cal coverage. Puente did so, her benefits were restored and she is now awaiting a fourth transplant at UCLA.

Puente's case highlights two controversial issues: Should illegal immigrants receive liver transplants in the U.S. and should taxpayers pick up the cost?

Again, beyond the cost factor, the problem is, there aren't a whole lot of spare livers and kidneys and things flying around. Here's how it works out for us legal, taxpaying types:

Immigration status does not play a role in allocating organs.
But some say that it should and that illegal immigrants should return to their home countries for care rather than receive organs and costly transplants ahead of legal residents and U.S. citizens.

"All transplants are about rationing," said Roy Beck, executive director of NumbersUSA, which favors stricter controls on immigration. "I just don't think the public ought to be funding any kind of benefits for people who are breaking the law."

Larry Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen who has hepatitis C, has known for a decade that he needs a new liver but was just placed on the transplant waiting list last week.

"Why do we have to get in line behind immigrants, foreigners, when we have enough people here to fill the hospitals?" asked Gonzalez, 54, who lives in Ventura. "It just seems obvious to me that we shouldn't be taking a back seat."

I'm not saying we should deny these children organs. I'm just saying we shouldn't be forced to pay for them. Those who squeal that all health care should be "free" (hey, slow learners...where do you think the funding comes from?) are quite "free" to show their humanitarianism the free-market way. Ideally, across the border. (I don't know why we bother keeping immigration laws on the books, wasting all that ink and paper, if we're not going to enforce them.)

And hey, quick question: How many of you U.S. residents commenting here get free medical care? How about a free liver? Two free livers? Three free livers? Or how about FOUR free livers -- the number being given to the illegal immigrant girl leading Gorman's piece. And, oh yeah -- how many of you are illegal immigrants?

And, another question: How many people who read this LAT piece are nixing their decision to donate their organs, like these two commenters on the LAT site:

21. I am cancelling my donor permission on my drivers license. The ultimate insult to me as an American would be to have my organs used to prolong the life of someone who is in the United States illegally and has never contributed to the American economy, but has sucked the system dry. Submitted by: American 2:31 PM PDT, April 14, 2008

22. I don't care who you are...no one is deserving of 4 livers. After the first two, the doctors and hospitals should have come to the realization that the body is going to reject whatever they put inside it. There is no way an American citizen would be given the same level of treatment in Mexico, China or the Phillippines. I will no longer be an organ donor.
Submitted by: Sandra V.
2:29 PM PDT, April 14, 2008

A few more comments I found compelling:

31. Because she's here illegally from birth, we owe her her fourth liver? So far, we've 'contributed' at least $2 million for this illegal alien. And, the young man is 'mad' because we owe him for a liver just because he's here illegally? And, the idiots in our governments can't figure out why American taxpayers don't want to be dying because the health care they support is going to felons. Submitted by: ethel640 12:44 PM PDT, April 14, 2008

32. Stephanie wrote:"I'm sorry but we are not god we do not hsave the right to way who should ive or die." Stephanie, that's what the whole transplant decision process that these doctors go through is about--deciding who gets organs and who doesn't. If you're too old, in too bad a shape, a drug addict or alcoholic, whether you or someone can pay, it matters. Why shouldn't it matter whether or not you're in this country illegally?
Submitted by: Ali
12:27 PM PDT, April 14, 2008

51. I've been in the U.S. since I was a baby, too (I'm a U.S. citizen). No one takes care of me unless I pay the bills! The sense of entitlement expressed by this young woman is mind-boggling!!!!! I'm not sure if this article was meant to gather sympathy for illegals, but, if it was, it failed miserably. All I feel is anger...not just anger at this young woman and others like her, but anger at every politician in the entire country who refuses to obey U.S. laws and send these illegals back to their countries of origin.
Submitted by: davenjan
9:12 AM PDT, April 14, 2008

LA Times Comments section: http://www.latimes.com/news/printeditio ... 1&limit=10

Comments can also be left at this blog: http://www.latimes.com/news/printeditio ... 3&limit=10

I stopped being an organ donor because of this, if my organs will be given to illegal aliens, it's grossly unfair and criminal!

In the US illegal border jumpers are helped by organ donors.
In some countries illegal border jumpers might be the organ donors!