Colorado Hospital Refuses Kidney Transplant to Woman Over COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal
Colorado Hospital Refuses Kidney Transplant to Woman Over COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal
Zachary Stieber with The Epoch Times reports:
A hospital in Colorado rejected a woman for a kidney transplant after she refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine, officials have confirmed.
Leilani Lutali received a letter on Sept. 28 informing her that the transplant team at the University of Colorado Hospital decided to designate her inactive on the waiting list for transplants.
“You will be inactivated on the list for non-compliance by not receiving the COVID vaccine,” the letter states.
If Lutali continues to refuse to get a vaccine, “you will be removed from the kidney transplant list,” it added.
Neither Lutali nor her designated donor, Jaimee Fougner, have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Fougner has not for religious reasons, while Lutali believes there is not enough known about the vaccines, they told KCNC-TV.
According to Lutali, hospital officials previously said vaccination was not required to get a transplant.
“Here I am, willing to be a direct donor to her. It does not affect any other patient on the transplant list,” said Fougner. “How can I sit here and allow them to murder my friend when I’ve got a perfectly good kidney and can save her life?”
The hospital did not respond to a request for comment. It told news outlets in a statement that there are many requirements in place at transplant centers, such as requiring patients to avoid alcohol.