Lawyers Urge for Change in Vaccine Transplant Policy Following Tragic Death of Woman
Some legal experts believe that governments have the ability to make changes to allow organ transplants for individuals who choose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The recent case of Sheila Annette Lewis, an Alberta woman who needed a life-saving organ transplant but refused to get vaccinated, has highlighted this issue. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith decided to leave the case to medical experts after seeking their opinions. Medical professionals argue that the COVID vaccine is crucial in preventing organ rejection and improving survivability. However, there are risks associated with the vaccine that shouldn’t be disregarded, especially for individuals with respiratory illnesses. Data from the Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network shows that adverse events related to the cardiorespiratory system have been reported. Sheila Lewis challenged the denial of her organ transplant through the legal system, but her case was declined by the Supreme Court of Canada. Legal experts believe that politicians could legislate to ensure that individuals like Lewis aren’t denied life-saving transplants. However, some argue that the transplant centers should review their policies based on the severity of COVID in the transplant population and the availability of treatments. There are concerns that decisions affecting people’s lives are made by bureaucrats and judges who are not directly accountable to the public. Local centers have the ability to change their policies, as seen in the tragic case of Garnet Harper who died after being denied a transplant due to his refusal of the COVID vaccine. The issue of vaccine status for organ transplants is considered a local healthcare decision made by individual centers. However, critics argue that authorities should intervene and send a message to the healthcare system that this requirement is not supported by the science. It is important to consider different perspectives and the ability to adapt policies based on evolving information in the healthcare system.
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