Leilani Lutali Wiki – Leilani Lutali Biography
The University of Colorado Health Hospital sent a letter to Leilani Lutali, 56, who was to receive a kidney from Jaimee Fougner, 45, informing her that the procedure could not be performed until both women were vaccinated against COVID. -19. A Colorado woman suffering from stage five kidney failure was denied a new kidney because both she and her potential donor were not vaccinated.
‘I feel coerced. I feel like my life is in your hands for a shot, and the attitude is just shooting, ‘Lutali told Denver7. Fougner told CBS: ‘Here I am, willing to be a direct donor to her. She does not affect any other patients on the transplant list. How can I sit here and allow my friend to be murdered when I have a perfect kidney and can save her life?
The patient REFUSED kidney transplant because her donor was unvaccinated
According to Aurora-based UCHealth, most transplant recipients and living donors now need to be vaccinated to avoid organ rejection. Lutali and Fougner met late last year during a Bible study, and only a few months later, Fougner made the decision to donate her kidney to her sick friend.
Fougner said that she has not received the vaccine for religious reasons, and Lutali has not received the vaccine because she says there are “too many unknowns.” The women claim they were not informed about the hospital’s policy until it was too late.
“At the end of August, they confirmed that no COVID injection was needed at that time,” Lutali said. “Fast forward to September 28th.” That’s when I found out. Jamie found out that they have this policy around injecting COVID for both the donor and the recipient. ‘
In the letter sent to Lutali, the hospital informed her that she would be placed on a waiting list for ‘non-compliance by not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine’. The hospital has given them 30 days to begin the vaccination process or to be removed from the kidney transplant list.
‘I said I would sign a medical waiver. Regardless, I have to sign a waiver for the transplant itself, freeing them from anything that could go wrong, ” Lutali said. It’s surgery, it’s invasive. I sign a waiver for life. I’m not sure why I can’t sign a waiver for COVID injection. US Representative Tim Geitner of Colorado called the ordeal “incredibly frustrating, incredibly sad, incredibly disgusting,” in a statement Tuesday.
UCHealth spokesman Dan Weaver said the hospital would not comment on any specific cases, but said it was common for transplant patients to be asked to meet specific conditions before, during and after surgery. “For example,” Weaver wrote in a statement, “patients may be required to receive vaccinations, including hepatitis B, MMR and others.” Patients may also be required to avoid alcohol, stop smoking, or show that they will be able to continue taking their anti-rejection medications long after transplant surgery. These requirements increase the likelihood that a transplant will be successful and the patient will avoid rejection ”.
Weaver added that transplant patients who are not vaccinated against COVID face a higher mortality rate of 20 to 30 percent. If they become infected, they are at particularly high risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death, ”Weaver said. “A living donor could transmit COVID-19 infection to an organ recipient even if they initially test negative for the disease, putting the patient’s life at risk.”
But Fougner and Lutali said the risk did not matter to them as Lutali is approaching total closure of the kidneys. Life expectancy for people with stage five kidney failure is about five to 10 years while receiving dialysis treatment, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
An estimated 17 people die every day waiting for an organ. It is your choice which treatment you should receive. In Leilani’s case, the choice has been taken away from her. Her life has now been held hostage due to this mandate, ” Fougner told CBS. The women said they have not been able to find a hospital in Colorado to perform the transplant while they are not vaccinated and said they are now looking in other states.
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