Question: Heart Transplant Recipient

[sherryinutah]

A Georgia teen who received a heart transplant less than two years ago has died in a car accident while fleeing police, according to officials.  The teen was originally denied an opportunity to receive a heart because he had a criminal history.  After this young man received his heart transplant he told everyone that he was grateful for a 2nd chance at life. 

Anthony Stokes, 17, was driving a car that matched the description of a car used to flee a home burglary, in which a masked person allegedly shot a gun at an 81-year-old woman who was home watching television, Roswell Police spokeswoman Officer Lisa Holland told ABC News.

When officers tried to pull the vehicle over, the driver allegedly refused to stop, and they chased him, she said.

"The car lost control at an intersection, ran over a curb, hit a pedestrian and ran into big, metal pole," Holland said.

Stokes died Tuesday night from injuries sustained in the crash.   

So....here's the question. 

Was it a mistake to allow this teen to receive a heart transplant?

[JaniceSW]

I saw this item on the news also.  I also heard the news state that they were NOT originally going to give the boy a heart transplant because he already had a criminal record and would not follow the doctors' directions.  Not following the doctors' directions was what made me pause.  Although he was so young and you certainly want to give someone like that all the benefits of the doubt, people are going to have the most success with transplants who will be compliant with doctors' orders.
Now, with hindsight, you certainly are sad that someone else missed out on such an opportunity who probably would have made the most of it.  If this young man would have remained non-compliant, thus demonstrating evidence that his behavior would be so in the future, I probably would NOT have approved the transplant.

[svetka05]

From the story that I just read I could say that yes if we all knew what would happen in the future with this teen the heart transplant would be a waste of time and waste of heart. And even that logic I think is not quite right. Everyone deserves a fair treatment no matter what. It is all up to that individual to make something out of their lives. In this case it is very sad to see how careless this teen turn out to be. After undergoing a successful heart transplant surgery he clearly had a brand new start to life but unfortunately the teen did not appreciated that much and made a wrong choice that caused his life. Very sad.

[debidoo]

Turns out it was a mistake or a waste however you wish to look at it.  Someone who really was able to have a decent life and to respect others should have gotten the heart  Just my opinion but things work out the way they work out so who am I to say?

[Penwoir]

Well that's a complex question. I guess my main thought is that everyone should have the right to life, regardless of their background and history, although I don't deny this story makes me very sad, especially in light of the fact that there may have been someone else who would have 'looked after' their new heart better than this guy did. But I guess the surgeons opt for a recipient who is most likely to biologically accept the heart or should I say, whose body will be less likely to deny the new organ. Doesn't the fact that this guy, who was just as in need of his new heart as a non offender, deserve rehabilitation of both the medical and criminal variety. Just wondering to myself and I could so easily fall on the other side of the fence given similar circumstances.

[jiuchan]

i agree that everyone deserves another chance at life, but some chooses to take advantage of what they are given. honestly, to me, with that kind of act, it's karma.

[michele2042]

It might have just as well turned out the other way....he had the chance to go on and be a valuable member of society.   No one has an eye into the future, he deserved the heart as much as anyone.   It's a shame his life led him into crime but he deserved a chance.   

[natashaspy]

I don't think they should've given him the transplant.  Not because of his record, but because of the fact that he wasn't following doctors orders.  It breaks my heart that so many who would've made good use and perhaps have been an upstanding person could've lived when this boy obviously had no regard for taking care of himself...