Hospital considers kidney transplant for previously denied disabled girl

In this Jan. 19, 2012 file photo, Chrissy and Joseph Rivera pose with their 3-year-old mentally disabled daughter, Amelia Rivera, at their home in Stratford, N.J.

/ AP

(CBS/AP) Three-year-old Amelia Rivera was denied a kidney transplant because she's "disabled," her parents said earlier this month. After the controversy led to a public outcry, Amelia is now being considered for the procedure, her father said Tuesday.

PICTURES: Amelia Rivera, 3, in struggle for kidney transplant over disability

Joseph Rivera said he and his wife, Chrissy, met with doctors at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on Friday and were told they are now willing to consider a transplant for their 3-year-old daughter, Amelia. The Stratford, N.J., family said doctors initially told them their daughter wasn't eligible for a transplant because of a mental disability.

"At this point, we're moving forward," Rivera said in an interview with The Associated Press. "They are allowing us at least to go through the process."

Rivera said his daughter will now have to go through screenings to see if she's a good transplant candidate. He and his wife will now be going in for tissue testing in March.

"We knew going in that it was a long process," Rivera said.

A CHOP spokeswoman did not immediately comment on the status of the case, which gained prominence after Chrissy Rivera wrote about it on her blog earlier this month.

The hospital previously said it "does not disqualify potential transplant candidates on the basis of intellectual abilities." It has also said it is "deeply committed" to providing the best possible medical care for all children, including those with disabilities.

Amelia Rivera, who goes by the nickname Mia, was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a rare genetic defect that can cause physical and mental disabilities. She will need a transplant in six months to a year.

5 Photos

Amelia Rivera, 3, in struggle for kidney transplant over disability

[hb1234]

Scratch beneath the surface and its scary what appetite is still out there for eugenics and similar thinking.

[Lucia_Matias]

This is scare. These parents are extremely selfish people. Organs are scarce. Other children, better fir for life, would benefit more from it.

If I had a child in that condition I would never do anything like it.

[cookingTF]

You must not have read the article. They aren't using an organ donor organ, a family member will be donating a kidney to the child.

[lfitts2]

This is a scarce resource...and as un-PC as this sounds you need to make judgments as to who gets the kidney. I would rather give this kidney to a fully functional child...so there I said it... hot news...we can't afford to give everyone everything...you don't like it...that is reality. An otherwise normal child who has a chance to otherwise have normal life is more deserving...just my opinion...and yes if it were my child it would break my heart, but I hope I would say the same thing!

[cookingTF]

You must not have read the article. They aren't using an organ donor organ, a family member will be donating a kidney to the child.

[Henri_Rochard]

If any of you out there were wondering about the skyrocketing cost of health care, then re-read the story.

I'm not going the one to tell this mother that this child can't have her transplant -- I'll suck it up and pay the higher premiums.

We can give folks, young and old, expensive medical treatment, but we've got to be ready to pay for it.

[curious2knownow]

Another question, what child, with the possibility of a future, will die for lack of an organ because one went to Amelia? There are only so many organs available for transplant. That all said, the parents have every right to fight for their child and they should.

[cookingTF]

You must not have read the article. They aren't using an organ donor organ, a family member will be donating a kidney to the child.

[Lerianis4]

About time that the hospital realized that they made a mistake here. If we say that a girl who is mentally deficient is "not worthy of a transplant" what is the next thing?

No job? Poor? Where does it end.

[diamruby]

As long as the parents are paying the full bill for the transplant then it should not matter. My question is why would anyone want to prolong the suffering of this child??

[MegaProcrastination]

Who says she's suffering?