Hospital refuses to give unvaccinated woman, 56, a kidney transplant

A woman has been refused a kidney transplant because she has not received a coronavirus vaccine under a new policy launched in Colorado, US.

Leilani Lutali, 56, was set to receive a kidney from Jaimee Fougner, 45, but has been told the procedure will not begin until both women get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Ms Lutali received a letter from the University of Colorado Hospital saying she would be removed from the transplant list unless she begins the vaccine process within 30 days.

The letter, which has been shared on social media, reads: "The transplant team at University of Colorado Hospital has determined that it is necessary to place you inactive on the waiting list.

"You will be inactivated on the list for non-compliance by not receiving the COVID vaccine. You will have 30 days to begin the vaccination series.

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The University of Colorado Hospital sent the woman a letter said she would be placed as inactive on the transplant list as she has not received a coronavirus vaccine (Google)

"If your decision is to refuse COVID vaccination you will be removed from the kidney transplant list.

"You will continue to accrue waiting time but you will not receive a kidney offer while listed inactive.

"Once you complete the COVID vaccination series you will be reactivated on the kidney transplant list pending any other changes in your health condition."

Ms Lutali, who has stage five renal failure, said she feels "coerced" to get the coronavirus vaccine even though she does not feel ready for it.

She told KOAA TV: "I feel coerced. I feel like my life is being held in their hands in exchange for a shot, and the attitude is just take the shot."

She added: "I said I'll sign a medical waiver. I have to sign a waiver anyway for the transplant itself, releasing them from anything that could possibly go wrong.

"'It's surgery, it's invasive. I sign a waiver for my life. I'm not sure why I can't sign a waiver for the COVID shot."

Ms Fougner, who has not received a Covid jab for religious reasons, told CBS : "Here I am, willing to be a direct donor to her. It does not affect any other patient on the transplant list.

"How can I sit here and allow them to murder my friend when I've got a perfectly good kidney and can save her life?"

The woman was told she will be able to receive a transplant after getting her Covid jab (Getty Images)

Tim Geitner, a Republican state representative from El Paso County, Colorado, said he has contacted UCHealth to get them to provide an exception, Denver7 reports.

He said: "The understanding is basically… conform to this demand. Take this COVID vaccine or otherwise you will be denied a life-saving procedure."

He added: "There is very little that UCHealth is prepared to do... an exemption to policy or a change in policy or accommodating or anything else."

The women are now reportedly looking for another hospital to perform the transplant, but have not found one yet.

Unvaccinated transplant patients are more likely to die if they contract Covid-19, the hospital said (AFP via Getty Images)

UCHealth said in a statement that it aims to provide the best care for patients and that now transplant recipients, as well as living donors, are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as part of the health requirements needed for the procedure.

The health system added: "Surgeries may be postponed until patients take all required precautions in order to give them the best chance at positive outcomes."

According to UCHealth, transplant patients are more likely to die if they contract Covid-19.

In the US, it is estimated 17 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant, according to Health Resources & Services Administration.

Every nine minutes a new person is added to the transplant waiting list, the website explains.

It adds that 39,000 transplants were performed in the US in 2020.

UCHealth said in a statement: "An organ transplant is a unique surgery that leads to a lifetime of specialized management to ensure an organ is not rejected, which can lead to serious complications, the need for a subsequent transplant surgery, or even death. Physicians must consider the short- and long-term health risks for patients as they consider whether to recommend an organ transplant.

"Transplant centers across the nation, including the UCHealth Transplant Center, have specific requirements in place to protect patients both during and after surgery. For example, patients may be required to receive vaccinations including hepatitis B, MMR and others. Patients may also be required to avoid alcohol, stop smoking, or prove they will be able to continue taking their anti-rejection medications long after their transplant surgery. These requirements increase the likelihood that a transplant will be successful and the patient will avoid rejection.

"In almost all situations, transplant recipients and living donors at UCHealth are now required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in addition to meeting other health requirements and receiving additional vaccinations. Some U.S. transplant centers already have this requirement in place, and others are making this change in policy now.

"Patients who have received a transplanted organ are at significant risk from COVID-19. Should they become infected, they are at particularly high risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. Studies have found transplant patients who contract COVID-19 may have a mortality rate of 20% or higher. A living donor could pass COVID-19 infection on to an organ recipient even if they initially test negative for the disease, putting the patient’s life at risk."