Transplant Board Reviews Policy

While the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network voiced its concern over a federal judge interfering with medical policy, the board voted on Monday to allow children access to adult lungs on a case-by-case basis, according to reports.

Sarah Murnaghan, the 10 year old who , has been temporarily added to the adult list for a lung transplant after her parents filed an emergency motion and a federal judge granted her a 10-day injunction.

Sarah has been on both the adult and pediatric lung transplant list but under organ transplant policy, she would only receive adult donor lungs after all adult candidates, regardless of how sick they are, had the opportunity to accept them. If Sarah were 12 years old she would be eligible for lungs from an adult donor much sooner. Pediatric donor lungs are much more rare.

Last week, Javier Acosta, 11, of New York, who also has cystic fibrosis and is a patient awaiting a transplant at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia along with Sarah, was added to the temporary order as well.

On Monday, the OPTN board voted to allow adult transplant requests, on a case-by-case basis, based on priority status for children under 12 but only after a review period of potentially seven days, according to philly.com. 

After the review period, eligibility would be granted or refused by the national Lung Review Board, according to philly.com.

The board will conduct a year-long review of the policy and the amended rule in effective until July 2014.

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey visited with Sarah and her parents on Monday and told the Delaware County Daily Times that she was intubated and heavily sedated.

Toomey released the following statement after the OPTN decision.

“While I am still reviewing the policy changes, I am concerned about a seven-day waiting period during which a child with an urgent need, who is a suitable transplant candidate, is excluded from the transplant list while a panel reviews the case. This strikes me as problematic," Toomey said in a statement. "Nevertheless, this issue could be solved at once if Secretary Sebelius would use the authority granted to her by existing law to stop the discrimination that is occurring against children under the age of 12. Medical need and suitability, not age, should be the criteria determining how organ donations are prioritized.”

 

Organ Donation Awareness Event

Blush Salon, at 3515 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square, will hold a fundraising event from 2 to 7 p.m. on June 14 to raise awareness for organ donation.

Blush is proud to be apart of Sarah's Army and has joined the fight to help raise organ donor awareness, according to Blush Owner Milena Dobrikovic. Register to be an organ donor and give the gift of life.

The salon will offer blow drys and spray tans and all proceeds will donated to the Gift of Life Foundation, according to Dobrikovic.

See More on Patch:

• Sarah Murnaghan Added to Adult Transplant List
• 'Today Show' Highlights Sarah Murnaghan
• Prayer Vigil Friday for Sarah Murnaghan
• Mother Pleads for Direct Organ Donation to Save Daughter
• Review of Organ Donation Policy Sought
• Help Newtown Square Girl Get Life-Saving Transplant