354 To refer or not to refer?: ethical challenges of appropriate patient selection to obtain optimum survival and quality of life post lung transplant
Citation
Robertson, J. & MacDonald, K. (2017) 354 To refer or not to refer?: ethical challenges of appropriate patient selection to obtain optimum survival and quality of life post lung transplant, Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, vol. 16, , pp. S153,
Abstract
Objectives: We present a case study which raises several ethical issues
as to refer or not to refer and seek discussion and debate within this
session.
Currently in the UK there are 321 patients on the active lung transplant list.
With a shortfall of available suitable organs, not all patients will receive a
transplant. Up to 1 in 6 patients on the active lung transplant list die or
become too sick to receive a graft. Successful transplant can achieve a 60%
survival to 5 years. Contraindications to transplant can be physical and or
psychosocial. This limited supply highlights the responsibility of CF teams
to have consensus on referring candidates that are most likely to benefit
from receiving this limited resource. The CF team need to be honest with
patients and give a realistic account of process, outcomes and survival
before a referral is made.