New Rules for Liver Transplants

Re “New Liver Transplant Rule Worries Patients, Surgeons,” Nov. 16: Our daughter had a liver transplant seven years ago at UCLA. She received a transplant too late and incurred serious brain injury, leaving her unable to walk or talk, and with abilities of a 2-month-old.

She was moved down the priority list when a child next to her in the hospital rejected his second liver. He died with a third transplant. Had this ruling been in effect then, the other child probably would have been passed over and the liver given to our daughter. However, this new rule is very disturbing to us now because should our daughter reject and require a new liver, she would most likely be bypassed due to her neurological problems.

If the policymakers had a loved one on Status One level, would they want to see this change in ruling?

I do not envy Dr. Ronald Busuttil’s [at UCLA Medical Center] task of giving 250 families this news.

STEVE SEUFERT

Lancaster

* About your article on the new standards for organ recipients: The solution to this tragic problem of organ shortages is so simple. Reverse our present system of donor cards and assume everyone is a willing donor unless they carry a card that specifies otherwise.

JJ HORSMAN

Laguna Beach