Three year old toddler, Amelia was denied a kidney transplant needed within the year by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia due to her “mental delays” and “quality of life” allegedly claimed by her physician.
Amelia suffers from Wolf-Hirschhorn, a genetic disorder that effects growth and development, causing her inability to walk or talk. Her mother, Chrissy Rivera, a high school English teacher shared her story on a Wolf-Hirschhorn website which outraged other parents with children that suffer from the syndrome. One of the supporters, who believe the hospital’s actions are discriminatory, created a petition with about 25,000 supporters urging the hospital to allow the life-saving procedure on change.com.
A spokesperson of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia claims that the hospital’s decision may go beyond the child’s impairment and debates that the hospital “does not disqualify potential transplant candidates on the basis of intellectual abilities.” Charles Camosy, a professor of Christian ethics at Fordham University explains, “Other factors the hospital may be considering are the medical issues associated with Wolf-Hirschhorn, including a weakened immune system, heart disease, and the acute shortage of kidneys available for young children.”
Christina R. Trinidad
