A transplant candidate rejected for his cost, says to try GoFundMe

Hedda Martin needed a heart transplant, but was rejected because she could not afford to pay for follow-up care. The hospital that rejected her suggested she undertake a "fundraising effort" to raise $ 10,000 and then try again, according to glow.

In practice, GoFundMe campaigns and other fundraising efforts have supported Americans' health care costs for years, with $ 650 million raised for health care through the platform year-round last.

But the letter sent to Martin by the Heart and Lung Transplant Center Richard DeVos of Spectrum Health, named in honor of billionaire Betsy DeVos, secretary of education, was unusual for his direct recommendation and his rejection.

"The decision made by the committee is that you are not currently applying for a heart transplant because you need a safer financial plan for immunosuppressive drug coverage. The Committee recommends a fundraising of $ 10,000, "says the November 20 letter from the clinic.

Spectrum Health made a statement to glow recognize that the ability to pay is a factor in transplant decisions:

"Although we can not provide a transplant, we are always upset, but we have an obligation to ensure that transplants are successful and that the donor's organs remain viable. We carefully examine candidates for cardiac and pulmonary transplant procedures with care and compassion, and these are often extremely complex and difficult decisions to make, "said the organization. "Although our main focus is the patient's medical needs, the fact is that transplants require lifelong care and immunosuppression medications, so costs are sometimes a regrettable and unavoidable factor in the process of taking decision. "

Martin, 60, developed congestive heart failure as a complication of chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer over a decade ago, according to a GoFundMe page.

The required level of funding of $ 10,000 is sufficient for two years of a 20% co-pay for anti-rejection drugs.

"The transplant team does not want to" waste "a vital organ if it can not afford drugs for heart rejection. Of course, says Martin's page on GoFundMe. "However, they are not even willing to put her on the list, knowing that it would give her plenty of time to raise money for about a year through her family."

Martin published on Facebook his refusal to undergo a heart transplant and the financial conditions that underlay it. Its story quickly began to spread, echoed by New York Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others.

GoFundMe for Martin raised more than $ 11,000 on Sunday.