When Patients Are Maintained to Improve Hospital Stats: A Case Study

by Craig Klugman, Ph.D. A ProPublica investigation discovered a pattern in some transplant patients at Newark Beth Israel Hospital (NJ): In a few cases, patients were kept in the ICU for one year after transplant and then quickly sent to a long-term care facility where they died. The story came to light when ProPublica learned of Darryl Young, a heart transplant patient who suffered brain damage during his surgery and remains in an unresponsive state (PVS).  The reporters apparently brought the story to the patient’s sister who had no idea that her brother was only being kept breathing to help the hospital’s statistics.…
Source: blog.bioethics.net - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Tags: Featured Posts Organ Transplant & Donation professional ethics Source Type: blogs