Pa. hospital sorry about disabled transplant case
Feb 15, 2012, 11:42 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A Philadelphia hospital says it’s sorry for the way it handled a dispute over whether a disabled 3-year-old girl was eligible for a kidney transplant.
The parents of Amelia Rivera say doctors initially told them she wasn’t eligible because of a mental disability caused by a rare genetic defect. A blog post by her mother, Chrissy Rivera, spawned a public outcry. But last month her parents said she was being considered for the procedure.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Riveras released a joint statement Wednesday.
The hospital says it regrets it “communicated in a manner that did not clearly reflect” its policies or intent and apologizes for the Stratford, N.J., couple’s experience. The Riveras say they’ll hold the hospital in high regard.
No decision on the girl’s candidacy has been made.
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