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"Kidney transplant cancelled"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Renal Dialysis Unit, Renal Transplant Unit (Surgical and Medical)

(as a relative),

Recently, my spouse got a call from the transplant team at Fiona Stanley Hospital who informed us that their (my spouse) kidney transplant won’t go ahead, I believe because of their vaccine status. I recall they have previously asked 3 times to which we informed them no, they cancelled my spouse’s dialysis training a week before because there was no point with transplant about to happen (my spouse’s parent has been almost given the green light to donate) too, then suddenly telling us they can’t offer it till fully vaccinated including booster which I believe could take 5+ months. We are heartbroken to say the least.

I feel confused as to why AHPRA and current mandates seem to state that you cannot be denied medical treatment due to vaccine status, but as I understand it, they think this apparent medical discrimination is ok. We want this denial of what I consider to be urgent medical treatment/ transplant in writing please. Ta.

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Responses

Response from Neil Doverty, Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 2 years ago
Neil Doverty
Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 4/02/2022 at 3:00 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 3:00 PM


picture of Neil Doverty

Dear uniformqt43,

Thank you for sharing your story on Care Opinion. The concerns you share would indeed be distressing and I appreciate both you and the patient also reaching out to our Patient Family Liaison Service to discuss them.

The first thing I want to do is to assure you that no patients are being, nor will be denied, an organ transplant on the basis of their COVID19 vaccination status. South Metropolitan Health Service remains committed to providing the highest standard of health care at all times and is working to continue to do so within state and federal mandates related to the COVID19 pandemic. At no time has any patient been denied a kidney transplant if this has been deemed the most clinically appropriate treatment option.

The Fiona Stanley Hospital Nephrology team have been contacting patients on their kidney transplant waitlist to discuss the risks of transplantation (primarily severe immunosuppression) in the context of the current COVID19 pandemic. This conversation has included a discussion regarding vaccination status as COVID vaccination is strongly encouraged and recommended to minimise individual risk. I encourage you to contact the Renal Service clinical team here at Fiona Stanley Hospital as soon as possible so that they can clarify previous communications with you and your spouse and resolve your concerns.

Kind regards

Neil Doverty

Group Executive Director

Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group

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