Teen who was initially denied lung transplant for using pot dies
A young man from Utah who was initially denied a life-saving transplant after having tested positive for marijuana died.
Riley Hancey finally got a lung transplant in an operation a month ago at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. However, he received the transplant months after the University of Utah Hospital denied him a spot on the transplant list. The reason why he was denied was that he tested positive for THC, the chief intoxicant in marijuana, according to CBS.
Hancey was only 19 when he was hospitalized immediately after Thanksgiving. He was diagnosed with a severe form of pneumonia which caused his lung to collapse. After being denied for a transplant in Utah, his family tried to find another hospital willing to perform the life-saving operation. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania carried out the procedure on March 29. Hancey’s family was hopeful after the operaion, but his condition got worse. On Saturday, his family announced his death.
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“It is with heavy hearts, we are devastated to announce that Riley Hancey passed away from complications of a lung transplant,” a statement on the fundraising site YouCaring reads.
According to Riley Hancey’s family, he was a healthy teen, keen on summer and winter sports. He worked at a ski resort for his brother and loved to travel. His father claimed that Riley had smoked marijuana on Thanksgiving night with his friends, but he had been drug-free for a year before getting sick.
The University of UTAH did not comment on Riley’s case specifically, but explained their guidelines for the transplantation of different organs:
“Generally speaking, we do not transplant organs in patients with active alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug dependencies or abuse until these issues are addressed, as these substances are contraindicated for a transplant,” the hospital said.
In a statement, Hancey’s family thanked the doctors and staff at both University of Pennsylvania and the University of Utah hospitals, as well as the donor family.
“It has been a long battle to save Riley’s life,” Hancey’s family said. “We know that in our hearts we gave him every opportunity to survive. He will live in our hearts forever.”
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