Sick Atlanta Teen Kept Off Transplant List

[SwampMama]

"DeKalb Police arrested Stokes 11 times between 2010 and 2015, said Capt. Steve Fore. The charges included burglary, auto theft, weapons charges, terroristic threats. He had a burglary and truancy charge in 2010 as well as another burglary charge of a home in December 2012 and he picked up another burglary charge in February 2013, six months before the transplant controversy erupted, Fore said."

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/tragic-path-for-heart-transplant-teen-given-a-seco/nkkSG/

Sickening, isn't it? let's break that down a bit.

In 2010 he was about 12 years old and there he was ditching school and going off to commit burglaries. he's on FB bragging about how he always has money. His mother is his FB friend so it appears she knows what he is up to and allows it.

In 2011, about age 13 he get a large tattoo on his arm, followed by three other. The first says ANT" (his nickname. The others ares a skull and crossbones, a cross and SKC (apparently this is the name of his "gang" of friends).

His close friend age 13 (who he refers to as an " SKC$lyfe) is murdered by another teen (age 16) who attended the "alternate school" they had all been sent to. His friend also led a life of crime, truancy and running away from home/school, etc. Detail on that at this link. http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/two-troubled-lives-one-fatal-encounter/nQLfs/

He posts this comment, titling it " mi llife". As you can see, he obviously was no scholar and he lacks the basic skill to write simple thoughts in a coherent manner, with proper spelling and punctuation. It is obvious that college or high school graduation is in NOT in his future. I realize that many of these words are deliberately misspelled and that is part of his persona.

"it ben a sad lyfe 4 meh but im iiight now but i stay trying tew but nice yew ever body but ok lyke i knt get kewl wit ever1 life learn lesisin 4 meh go tew stay on mi fet tew gring diz wit da world
ife iz not a game(do grow up tew fast
stay on yo fet i grind diz world 4eava-keep up da good wotk
pimp how o do it sicking it with mi ni99a"

( translation: My Life. It's been a sad life for me but I'm alright now but I stay trying to but nice you everybody but ok like i cant get cool with everyone life lesson 4 me go to stay on my feet to grind this with the world
life is not a game (do grow up too fast
stay on your feet i grind the world forever-keep up the good work
pimp how o do it sicking it with my (n-word)


In 2012 he was about 14 years old and yet another burglary charge. he spends that year talking about wanting a "blunt" (marijuana), posting pics of a large amount of cash spread out on his floor and brags about his "hard work" (aka burglary and other money making crimes)

In 2013 he was about 16/17, and this is his activity in the months before the transplant. He racked up some more burglary charges. he was caught with a group of teens that were shooting at people. Police found TWO stolen guns in the vehicle. Stokes was arrested on an outstanding arson warrant. Quite the busy little bee, wasn't he? He managed to get around quite well to do crime, but not to get to the doctor to treat a life threatening condition. That says a lot about his priorities.

He also posts a lot about "wake and bake" which is a reference to smoking marijuana right when you wake up in the morning. He posts that he "got married" and he begins posting selfies from the hospital in July. He does not post any details of his health issues except to once mention that his heart is enlarged. He does brag about driving around even tho he he should not be driving because he is on house arrest, likely has no license and probably has to steal a car to drive.

In 2014 (age 17) after the transplant he is arrested for shoplifting and for having a 9mm handgun in his possession. Then another arrest for being caught with a stolen car which has stolen guns in it. The owner of the stolen car asked to speak to Anthony and he threatened to get her after he got out of jail and made a noise like a gun.

Then came the day when he hijacked a car, broke into an 81 year old woman's house to steal, shot at the elderly lady, fled, was pursued by cops, went on a high speed chase, hit another car. kept going, hit a pedestrian and ultimately wrecked the car and died.

At the time of his arrest, he had been arrested 11 times and had 3 outstanding warrants for other crimes.

*******************************************************************************

I'm sorry but the life above is one of total and complete NON-COMPLIANCE with the basics of life such as attending school, getting an education, respecting others, not stealing, violating his probation, etc. Was there ANYTHING he complied with? Nope unless you count his SKC4Lyfe goals to get money by stealing, tugging and an attitude of complete disrespect for everyone else!

Here is how he spent his 2nd chance after getting the heart. This is who he was and who he wanted to be. Thank God he did not kill anyone but her certainly was right on the path to do so.

 

[Supernovae]

She has cystic fibrosis. Transplant is not a cure for cystic fibrosis. It was only going to prolong her life, not let her live a normal life. It succeeded in that regard.

The same is true of lung transplant in general. The long term prognosis with a lung transplant, whatever the indication, is pretty poor, I don't know whether it's better or worse for those with a diagnosis of CF.

 

[Supernovae]

bbm

Do current regs or policies specify morality, worthiness, and/or blamelessness as requirements for patients to be eligible
to be added to heart transplant list? IDTS, but if so, link pls.

Are you saying Stokes' failure to take meds and attend med appts (pre-waiting-list)
has no or virtually no predictive value about his likely medical outcome post-heart transplant? Y or N?

That ppl not taking meds & attending appts as ordered pre-transplant are likely to have same med outcome
as others w same condition who are taking meds & attending appts? Y or N?

IIUC, medical outcomes of compliant group are likely to be better (much better? waaay better?) than non-compliant group.
Maybe in that sense, a pre-waiting list, non-compliant patient is not "worthy" of being allocated a heart
when then is another same-condition patient who is compliant and waiting for that same heart becoming avail.

The bits of my post you've bolded were in response to the poster it was addressed to and the general gestalt of some of the other comments, not in reference to any specific guideline currently in operation. As I said in my first post on this thread, I think compliance with regard to their current condition is a perfectly legitimate consideration when choosing who to list for transplant.

 

[MyBelle]

It has everything to do with his heart. If he didn't get a new heart, he wouldn't be out there allegedly trying to rob an elderly woman, or running over a pedestrian.

Two years ago, doctors had absolutely no way of knowing what the future held for him or his heart.

JMO

 

[Hiandmighty]

Two years ago, doctors had absolutely no way of knowing what the future held for him or his heart.

JMO

you mean while he was wearing his house arrest band on his ankle?

 

[jjenny]

Two years ago, doctors had absolutely no way of knowing what the future held for him or his heart.

JMO

He already had been in trouble with the law 2 years ago. Similar type of trouble that ended with him being dead trying to get away from police.

 

[Supernovae]

There are some basic requirements that the medical system is justified setting down as a prerequisite for an organ recipient, and I think that making a judgement about a person's moral character is on the table.

A person's moral character is an indicator of how they will be able to manage a highly structured set of responsibilities that follow an organ transplant. It's reasonable to turn down certain people - an unmanaged alcoholic, or a person living a lifestyle on the dark side of the law. I see that as a prudent decision by the medical system.

You're possibly eliding "responsibility" with "morality." Someone with a mental illness or addiction may well be unable to comply with the responsibilities that come with a transplant but that's not a "moral" issue. On the other hand, going back to the example of Dick Cheney some people would be pretty chagrined if he got one of their organs or a family member's (I know I would be), and on any objective measure he's caused more mayhem to the world than Anthony Stokes, by many, many, orders of magnitude, and certainly more than many harmless alcoholics and schizophrenics, but doubtless he turns up to all of his appointments on time, takes his medication and does all the other "right" things vis a vis his transplant.

Snipped.

Why not? A heart transplant is not an "entitlement."

That seems to be a huge problem for a lot of people in our society today-- a lot of people thinks they are "entitled" to a lot of things without any effort, or any responsibility, on their part.

Moving on from what I was just saying, who gets to make and define that kind of value judgement? You can certainly take into account factors that might predictably effect the prognosis, but my point is that "niceness" or perceived moral worthiness shouldn't come into it.

 

[Hiandmighty]

The ethical considerations do, such as equity, utility and justice. See UNOS/OPTN web pages for more information.

This boy FAILED to get on the list the first time. He was added after pressure from the race card.

 

[al66pine]

from another poster:
1.
"I don't know any teen that age who is capable of handling a highly structured medical regime on their own."
.
Did anyone anywhere anytime ask this 15 y/o to handle on his own? Or ask any 15 y/o to do this?
AFAIK, he was not being ripped from the heart of his family & ordered to earn money for his medical & living expenses.
He was not going to be forcibly moved to another country, state, or even a diff metro area to live alone.
He was w his family and w his mother who was advocating on his behalf, raising her voice in MSM & SM, w
help avail from various sources, e.g. Mack Majors, who said he mentored Stokes, then after transplant surgery,
was told nothing further was required.

2.
"...physicians are not clairvoyant."
.
Same question. Likewise, did anyone anywhere anytime say they are or should be? IIUC -
- Stokes' failure to take meds and attend med appts (pre-waiting-list) has some, maybe a lot, of predictive value about his likely medical outcome post-heart transplant.
- Pplnot taking meds & attending appts as ordered pre-transplant are more likely to havepoorer med outcomesas others w same condition who are taking meds & attending appts.
IOW, medical outcomes of compliant group are likely to be better (much better? waaaaaaaay better?) than non-compliant group.
No clairvoyance needed.

JM2cts.

At the time of the transplant, the recipient was only 15 years old. I don't know any teen that age who is capable of handling a highly structured medical regime on their own and physicians are not clairvoyant. That said, this kid didn't die two years later because the transplant failed, he died because he wrapped a car around a tree.
JMO

 

[wendybtn]

Transplants and the medicines you are required to take to maintain the transplant can do a number on you physically and mentally. You have to be responsible for yourself and able (age appropriate, of course) to manage your meds as if you are the only person you can rely on. This child was not a good candidate, IMO, but I am sure if the hospital had not allowed the transplant, they would have been tried and convicted of racism in the media. So someone who would follow the directions and stick to the meds, diet, activties, and work to prolong their life missed out on a chance for a transplant. That makes me really sad because plenty of people die while waiting on transplant lists.

 

[SwampMama]

In a broader sense, Anthony displayed his complete and utter non-compliance by refusing to follow school rules and being habitually truant.

He was non-compliant with the basic rules of being a decent person to others (don't steal, don't break into homes, don't point lethal weapons at people). Those also happen to be LAWS that he was non-compliant with, laws which he utter disregard for.

He was non-compliant when his illness was diagnosed. He continued to drink, steal cars and not show up for appt and take medications he needed. It was claimed it was because he did not have a car. The claim was also made that he was poor and could not afford things (medicaid would have paid for them anyway, no doubt). Ironically we now know that was stealing multiple cars and driving around in them (with stolen guns) and could afford illegal drugs (like marijuana) which he did regularly and based upon his FB photos he also had ample cash on display.

Doctors knew of his history at the time of the refusal to accept him as a transplant patient. I am sure they had the full facts which the public did not. The public was just told by his mom that he had "made a few mistakes" and alluded to dismissing the court ordered ankle bracelet as a result of Anthony "taking up for his little brother".His mother said hospital authorities had unfairly stereotyped her son as a bad kid, which she said was a reason they had refused the life-saving operation. She said he had only had a fight at school. In other worlds, she flat out LIED.


Of course now we know that the bracelet was due to a continuous pattern of crimes such as burglarizing homes, stealing cars, shooting at people with stolen guns, arson, etc. Um excuse me but these are not "a few mistakes". These are serious FELONIES that endangered innocent people's lives.

Sorry but he did not deserve the heart and I have no sorrow over his death thru his own stupidity and refusal to be a decent human being. I am actually glad that his crime spree has finally come to an end and people like the 81 year old woman whose home he broke into no longer have to live in fear from him.

I am thankful for that Suntrust sign. That sign is a hero to because it stopped this thugs life of crime. I am positive that the sign being there has saved lives, as Anthony was bound to kill someone eventually. Luckily his shot at the 81 year old woman missed and the pedestrian he hit will recover.

Many of us have made mistakes and learned from them. We have seen the light, shown remorse, changed our ways and gone on to be better people. Anthony displayed none of that.

Crime does not pay. Guns and running from cops in stolen cars is dangerous and can be deadly. As Bill Engval would say " Here's your sign"

 

[Morag]

Here are two examples of people who totally proved their inability to comply with disease-related issues before their transplants:

One brilliant middle-aged entrepreneur refused to accept the commonly-recommended advice from the best of doctors as to how to treat his cancer. He tried various diets, consulted psychics and tried alternative treatments which he had researched on the internet. By the time, months later, he agreed to have surgery, the disease had spread. Some time later, his wealth helped him to get to the top of a list for a transplant, several states away. Even after the transplant, he refused various therapies, and he nearly died then. Two years later, he was dead. All along, his non-compliance was obvious, yet he still got one of those scarce organs.

A beloved Hall of Fame professional athlete was an alcoholic from his mid-teens. He continued to play his sport and played it brilliantly, although with many injuries. In his early sixties, he was gravely ill with cirrhosis, hep C, and liver cancer. In just one day, he moved to the top of the list. Two months later, he and his new liver were both dead. Through his life, he was careless and non-compliant in issues with his health and well-being. Yet he still got one of those scarce livers.

The process for choosing organ recipients will always be somewhat unfair. Money talks. A very old person may receive a heart although he is unlikely to get much use from it. A young parent may be unable to keep up with the pre-op protocol because of having to earn a living and take care of the kids.

It's obvious that this young man was immature and irresponsible. So were the two gentlemen I started this post with. But this 15-year-old boy presumably had his whole life ahead of him. What he did when he was 12 or 14 shouldn't have forever damned him and his life. I am in favor of giving the scarce organs to younger people. Those who have raised their kids or ruined their health themselves don't need those organs as badly.

 

[MyBelle]

You're possibly eliding "responsibility" with "morality." Someone with a mental illness or addiction may well be unable to comply with the responsibilities that come with a transplant but that's not a "moral" issue. On the other hand, going back to the example of Dick Cheney some people would be pretty chagrined if he got one of their organs or a family member's (I know I would be), and on any objective measure he's caused more mayhem to the world than Anthony Stokes, by many, many, orders of magnitude, and certainly more than many harmless alcoholics and schizophrenics, but doubtless he turns up to all of his appointments on time, takes his medication and does all the other "right" things vis a vis his transplant.



Moving on from what I was just saying, who gets to make and define that kind of value judgement? You can certainly take into account factors that might predictably effect the prognosis, but my point is that "niceness" or perceived moral worthiness shouldn't come into it.

BBM. Absolutely correct, imo.

 

[DexterMorgan]

That kid loved his guns though.

 

[Hiandmighty]

Here are two examples of people who totally proved their inability to comply with disease-related issues before their transplants:

One brilliant middle-aged entrepreneur refused to accept the commonly-recommended advice from the best of doctors as to how to treat his cancer. He tried various diets, consulted psychics and tried alternative treatments which he had researched on the internet. By the time, months later, he agreed to have surgery, the disease had spread. Some time later, his wealth helped him to get to the top of a list for a transplant, several states away. Even after the transplant, he refused various therapies, and he nearly died then. Two years later, he was dead. All along, his non-compliance was obvious, yet he still got one of those scarce organs.

A beloved Hall of Fame professional athlete was an alcoholic from his mid-teens. He continued to play his sport and played it brilliantly, although with many injuries. In his early sixties, he was gravely ill with cirrhosis, hep C, and liver cancer. In just one day, he moved to the top of the list. Two months later, he and his new liver were both dead. Through his life, he was careless and non-compliant in issues with his health and well-being. Yet he still got one of those scarce livers.

The process for choosing organ recipients will always be somewhat unfair. Money talks. A very old person may receive a heart although he is unlikely to get much use from it. A young parent may be unable to keep up with the pre-op protocol because of having to earn a living and take care of the kids.

It's obvious that this young man was immature and irresponsible. So were the two gentlemen I started this post with. But this 15-year-old boy presumably had his whole life ahead of him. What he did when he was 12 or 14 shouldn't have forever damned him and his life. I am in favor of giving the scarce organs to younger people. Those who have raised their kids or ruined their health themselves don't need those organs as badly.

Well, Steve Jobs had a slow growing, yet lethal, pancreatic cancer and was diagnosed in 2003 yet didn't die until 2011, so we really can't say that he did or didn't do anything wrong. (5 year survival rate for his cancer is 55%).

His wealth ONLY helped insofar as he was able to get on several different geographical area waiting lists and could be there within the required 4 hours because he had a private plane on stand-by.

 

[DexterMorgan]

Ole Dick Cheney did skip the list as well. And he is responsible for many deaths.

 

[Hiandmighty]

Ole Dick Cheney did skip the list as well. And he is responsible for many deaths.

Not true. Dick Cheney waited longer than the average person on a heart transplant list, 20 months. He also had a artifical heart pump as a bridge to transplant while he waited.

 

[Supernovae]

Here are two examples of people who totally proved their inability to comply with disease-related issues before their transplants:

One brilliant middle-aged entrepreneur refused to accept the commonly-recommended advice from the best of doctors as to how to treat his cancer. He tried various diets, consulted psychics and tried alternative treatments which he had researched on the internet. By the time, months later, he agreed to have surgery, the disease had spread. Some time later, his wealth helped him to get to the top of a list for a transplant, several states away. Even after the transplant, he refused various therapies, and he nearly died then. Two years later, he was dead. All along, his non-compliance was obvious, yet he still got one of those scarce organs.

A beloved Hall of Fame professional athlete was an alcoholic from his mid-teens. He continued to play his sport and played it brilliantly, although with many injuries. In his early sixties, he was gravely ill with cirrhosis, hep C, and liver cancer. In just one day, he moved to the top of the list. Two months later, he and his new liver were both dead. Through his life, he was careless and non-compliant in issues with his health and well-being. Yet he still got one of those scarce livers.

The process for choosing organ recipients will always be somewhat unfair. Money talks. A very old person may receive a heart although he is unlikely to get much use from it. A young parent may be unable to keep up with the pre-op protocol because of having to earn a living and take care of the kids.

It's obvious that this young man was immature and irresponsible. So were the two gentlemen I started this post with. But this 15-year-old boy presumably had his whole life ahead of him. What he did when he was 12 or 14 shouldn't have forever damned him and his life. I am in favor of giving the scarce organs to younger people. Those who have raised their kids or ruined their health themselves don't need those organs as badly.

In the UK we had George Best, similar story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2161540.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3064167.stm

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/will-bests-liver-last-7228701.html

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2005/oct/05/drugsandalcohol.medicineandhealth

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4380332.stm

 

[MyBelle]

Not true. Dick Cheney waited longer than the average person on a heart transplant list, 20 months. He also had a artifical heart pump as a bridge to transplant while he waited.

The controversy was about Cheney's age when he received his heart transplant. I guess he played the "vice president card."

JMO

At age 71, Cheney was older than the average heart transplant patient; while there is no firm age limit for a heart transplant, most transplant surgeries are done on patients younger than 70 years old.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyph...rs-health-care-debate-who-lives-and-who-dies/

 

[al66pine]

Here are two examples of people who totally proved their inability to comply with disease-related issues before their transplants:
One brilliant middle-aged entrepreneur refused to accept the commonly-recommended advice....
A beloved Hall of Fame professional athlete was an alcoholic .... livers.
.... Money talks....

sbm
I'd like to read more from your source. Link pls.