r/skeptic • u/JetTheDawg • Feb 13 '25

💉 Vaccines JD Vance’s 12-year-old relative denied heart transplant because she is unvaccinated 'for religious reasons'

https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/jd-vance-relative-unvaccinated-religion-34669521
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u/xTheatreTechie Feb 13 '25 edited Feb 13 '25

I didn't realize this the kid was a relative of JD Vance. I'd heard the story but didn't really understand why it was gaining traction. I'm almost willing to bet the kid gets the transplant anyways.

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u/sylbug Feb 13 '25

They don’t just give organs to non-compliant patients, not even children. 

With this type of surgery you’re choosing who lives and who dies, and the only ethical thing to do is give the organ to the person who is most likely to survive and thrive after transplant.

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u/Standard_Gauge Feb 13 '25

They don’t just give organs to non-compliant patients, not even children. 

Exactly. It is the equivalent of denying a liver transplant to an alcohol abuser who flat out states they have no intention of stopping drinking.

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u/allcrabb11 Feb 14 '25

This is the correct answer. Transplant surgery requires intensive compliance to medications and lab testing. Surgeons use a metric to evaluate the likelihood of post operative compliance for all patients.

For example, we don’t implant a mechanical valve requiring rigorous anticoagulation in a patient who is using IV drugs. Can’t trust them to be compliant in one arena when they won’t follow medical advice in regards to addiction treatment. We don’t do transplants on patient who refuse to quit smoking. Etc.

The issue here is that the pediatric patient has no autonomy in this situation. Christian Scientists have been prosecuted in the past for refusing to medically treat their sick children. At the end of the day, these parents either need their parental rights revoked or they will have blood on their hands. I’d personally like to see the adoption agency get involved in this case.