| Overman Hospital in the State of Numonia has access to
exactly five cadaver kidneys for transplantation. Overman Hospital's Bioethic
Committee has the responsibility to recommend who shall be given a transplant.
An emergency meeting of the committee has been called for 10 a.m. At
that time, I want the committee to meet with me. At the meeting, each subcommittee
will have 15 minutes to brief me. I have a press conference scheduled for
11:00am.
At the 9:40 a.m. meeting, the committee should be prepared to:
1. recommend five individuals to obtain a kidney;
2. explain the allocation methodology that committee used to determine
who should be given a transplant;
3. explain why the committee choose the particular methodology for distributing
the organ;
4. idenitfy the alternative allocation methodologies that the committee
considered and rejected;
5. explain why the committee rejected the alternative models;
6. Idenitfy who would received the kidneys under the second-most favored
allocation model.
You should turn in a typed committee report outlining the above.
Tissue compatibility has been done on all the available candidates and
committee is provided information only on those individuals who are compatible
and medically able to undergo the surgery. Unless otherwise noted, assume
that the individuals are middle income, middle class with insurance that
will cover the cost. Except as noted you are not to assume anything about
the backgrounds of the individuals in order to make a decision. If you
need information about the individiuals you may pose the question to the
social work consultant (Vernellia R. Randall) assigned to work with your
committee.
Given the kidney supply situation in Numonia, all persons on this list
will more than likely die before any other kidneys become available. The
following patients are on the list:
1. Ruth Spettling, 60 year old, Chinese, female, married, mother of
3 adult children. Ruth is a well known patron of the arts. She just recently
donated several million dollars toward the Ruth Spettling Concert Hall.
Ruth has been waiting for a kidney for 3 months.
2. Samuel Wright, 36 year old white, male, married, father (18, 16,
12, 3, 1). Samuel usually works as a plumber but has been unemployed for
the last three years. Samuel's wife has some insurance but it is insufficient
to cover the cost of the transplant. Samuel has been waiting for a kidney
for 2 years.
3. Priscilla, white, female, no family, age undeterminable, say 56.
Priscilla has no money and no home. After the surgery, she will need nursing
care until she's well and after that she will be back on the streets -
homeless. Priscilla has been waiting for a kidney for 2 years. 4. George
Bush, 73 year old white, male, married, father of four, grandfather
of 10. George is a political heavy weight. He has been successful at almost
every level of Numonia politics and there is serious speculation that he
will be the next governor of Numonia. George has been waiting for a kidney
for 2 weeks.
5. Thomas Sadek, 31 year old, black, single, male, father of 2 (11,2).
Thomas is the first Black nuclear scientist in Numonia. Thomas has been
waiting for a kidney for 1 year.
6. Dennis Nunez, 20 year old, Hispanic, male, single, no children. Dennis
is the only son of first generation immigrants. He is a senior in college
and will be the first in his family to graduate from college. Dennis's
school insurance plan will not cover the cost of the transplant. Dennis
has been waiting for a kidney for 18 months.
7. Bryan X, 38 year old white male, married and father of 2 (5, 6).
Bryan X has a national reputation as a White separatist. Bryan X's followers
have already donated more than enough money to cover the cost of the surgery.
Byron X has been waiting for a kidney for 3 years.
8. Joyce Rogers, 23 year old, white, single, female, college graduate
in journalism. Joyce is employed by Hearst Enterprise as a reporter. Joyce
has been waiting for a kidney for 6 months.
9. Manie O'Leary, 10 year old, Irish male, an illegal alien. Manie's
family has already been deported. Although there is serious questions as
to whether Manie can get the proper medical care in Ireland, he will be
deported as soon as he is medically stationary. Manie has been waiting
for a kidney for 2 years.
10. Pat Neal, 35 year old white female, single, no children. Pat is
a struggling actress, however, her last few movies got good reviews and
its believed that her star is beginning to rise. Pat has moderate health
problems that won't affect the success of the surgery, but do significantly
shorten her life expectancy in general. Pat has been waiting for a kidney
for 2 years.
11. James Walker, 16 year old, Black male, an inter-city high school
student who is a member of the Crips gang. He is currently serving time
in juvenile detention for the murder of another gang member. Numonia does
not have capital punishment and as a juvenile Walker will be released at
21 years old. The state will be covering the cost of James transplant.
James has been waiting for a kidney for 3 years.
12. Barbara Whitewolf, 36 year old Indian, female, single, no children.
Has a thriving legal practice. In fact, Barbara is the only Indian woman
attorney in the State of Numonia. Barbara has been waiting for a kidney
for 1 year.
13. Patty Hearst, 22 year old, white female, single, no children. Patty
just graduated from college with a major in the Fine Arts. Her father,
has given, her a job as Vice-President of Illustration. He has also let
it be know to the Overman Hospital that he is interested in donating the
money for a pediatric trauma unit, a unit that the State of Numonia desperately
needs. It is estimated that approximately 15 infants a year die because
Numonia doesn't have a pediatric trauma unit. Patty has been waiting for
a kidney for 6 months.
14. Tom Nakasami, 42 year old white, male, Japanese, homosexual, involved
in a long-time relationship. Tom is a secondary education teacher. Tom
has been waiting for a kidney for 4 years.
15. Roger Belton, 45 year old, white male, married, no children, Assistant
Administrator of Numonia Health Department. Roger has been waiting for
a kidney for 6 months. |
