The Contra Costa times published a story by Hannah Dreier about Jesús Navarro, an undocumented *(illegal) immigrant who is in desperate need to get a kidney transplant. Mr. Navarro has private health care insurance and also, a kidney donor. But, UC San Francisco will not perform the transplant when they discovered Mr. Navarro’s immigration status.
According to Reece Fawley, executive director of the transplant division, said in a statement that the clinic evaluates all patients for “socioeconomic stability”.
Some excerpts of the Contra Costa times:
“UCSF’s policy for financial clearance requires candidates to present evidence of adequate and stable insurance coverage or other financial sources necessary to sustain follow-up care long after transplant surgery,” she said. “Immigration status is among many factors taken into consideration.”
“The hospital won’t perform the transplant without a guarantee that the drugs and accompanying treatment will be paid for.
Some bioethicists say the hospital should have performed the surgery because Navarro would not be taking resources away from other patients or putting his wife at serious risk.”
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If the financial stability, and not the immigrant status, is the reason for not performing the transplant that will save Mr. Navarro’s life, we urge the community to get in touch with the chief editor of Contra Costa Times to find ways to help Jesús Navarro to get his kidney transplant.
