Dying woman, 36, denied liver transplant despite husband being willing donor
Warning: This article contains content some readers may find upsetting
A woman has been denied a much-needed liver transplant whilst on life support due to breaching a hospital policy.
Amanda Huska is a 36-year-old struggling alcoholic who recently relapsed whilst on the waiting list for a transplant.
The Canadian woman has been on life support for three months whilst she waits for the organ, but was recently denied by the hospital after medics found out that she had relapsed before being admitted to the ward.
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Even though she has agreed to enter an addiction programme, her family have been told that she has just weeks to live.
Speaking out, she said that her partner, Nathan Allen, was willing to give her a portion of his liver for a partial transplant after confirming that his blood type was a match.
But the University Health Network in Ontario, Canada refused the request.
Allen told CTV News: “This was a wakeup call for her, she wanted to make every advantage and every opportunity to make sure she could get this transplant and turn her life around.”
The hospital refused as Huska displayed 'minimal abstinence outside of hospital' and relapsed into alcohol consumption.
Now, Allen wants to fly his partner out to Europe to attempt to provide her with a new liver. However, he’s afraid that she doesn’t have enough time left.
He said: “We were told last week that she has a couple of weeks left to live maybe a month if she's very lucky,' Allen said, explaining the treatment could cost $300,000.
“I will do whatever I can to save her life, just like the medical profession should be doing here.”
Edmonton liver transplant surgeon, Dr. Saumya Jayakumar, said that the criteria for transplants is usually consistent across Canada.
She said: “It's a precious gift. It's a limited resource. As you can imagine, making these decisions can result in a significant amount of moral distress with members of the team.
“We can give you a brand new liver, but if we're not able to change all of the circumstances that led to the liver failing, then have we really done you a service?
“I would say every single Transplant Center in Canada is having difficulty with both access to mental health funding for patients, as well as having access to mental health practitioners for transplant programs.”
UHN officials explained that it was down to these criteria that patients will be accepted or denied.
They said in a statement to CTV News: “We are unable to comment on specific cases due to patient privacy, but can say there are multiple criteria for living donor eligibility, only two of which are blood type and willingness.
"Recipient criteria is governed jointly by transplant centers and Trillium Gift of Life Network.”
LADbible Group has contacted UHN for further comment.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Britt Jones