Report: Steve Jobs Had Liver Transplant

Got It In Tennessee Two Months Ago, WSJ Says

(CNET)  Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave from Apple for the past six months, received a liver transplant in Tennessee two months ago, according to a report Friday in the Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this year, Apple's CEO was reported to be relocating from California to Tennessee, which has a shorter waiting list for patients seeking organs, the report noted. In January, after Jobs announced that he would step aside from his day-to-day duties for a six-month medical leave of absence, Bloomberg reported that Apple's CEO was considering a liver transplant. In a telephone interview at the time, Jobs refused to comment on his health status.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but an Apple spokesperson told the Journal that Jobs "continues to look forward to returning at the end of June, and there's nothing further to say."

Jobs is expected to return to the helm of Apple this month after nearly six months of medical leave. Jobs announced in January that he would be stepping down temporarily from the chief executive post while recuperating from a hormone imbalance. Some hoped his return to the company would coincide with an appearance at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco with an announcement of the new iPhone 3G S, but that did not pan out for Apple faithful.

Jobs, 54, has been the subject of heated speculation regarding his health since last June's Worldwide Developers Conference, when he appeared to have lost a great deal of weight. At the time, Apple insisted that Jobs' health was a private matter but revealed in early January that Jobs was suffering from a hormone imbalance that was impeding his body's ability to absorb certain proteins.

In August 2004, Jobs underwent successful surgery to treat a rare form of pancreatic cancer, which sidelined him until September of that year. Much of the speculation over the past year had been over whether that cancer had returned.

Tim Cook, Apple's chief operating officer, has been running the company during Jobs' absence.

[tdmone]

Concerns about Mr. Jobs' choice and ability to be listed and recieve his transplant in Tennesee are dwelling on economic equity issues, but ignoring the geographic and demographic issues that were the likely drivers of his decision. California currently has 20% of the national waiting list of patients neding organ transplants, yet California has only 10% of the national deaths and therefore only 12% of the Eligible deceased donors. With an allocation system that favors locally listed patients, then regional patients prior to national, Califonia's unfortunate demographics mean very long wait times and many deaths on the waitlists. This is best measured by liver disease score at transplant (MELD score) wich is usually in the 35-45 range in Northern California where Mr Jobs lives and as low as 15-25 at some Tennessee liver transplant programs. This system recognizes the limited distances and time that livers can travel and still be viable, but somewhat broader distribution is possible and as Mr. Jobs' case and these comments suggest, desirable.

[lucilioness]

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT "THE HAVES", AND "THE HAVE NOTS", AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.

[naj1953]

Isn't that the truth...Money Talks..

[differnet]

I have a lot of thoughts on this subject. First, I hope Mr. Jobs recovers well. However, I also hope that his receiving this liver did not bump someone else out of the running for the liver. Mr. Jobs has a terminal illness. He has pancreatic cancer. His prognosis, even with all his money is certain death. Personally, I think if there was another possible patient with a better prognosis, it should have gone to the more viable patient. However, our system now definately benefits the wealthy over the rest of us.

[Thalia-9]

Wow...why does it always have to be negative/smart a$$ comments - if it were you or your loved one it wouldn't be so humorous.

Hey SJ - here's to a rapid recovery of full health to you.

[obomba1]

Well of Mr Jobs was in charge of Microsoft the chances of rejection or the "fatal blue screen" would of been a forgone conclusion.

[watkinsjr2000]

I have strong doubts that a regular middle-class person who'd had pancreatic cancer would be accepted as a candidate for liver transplantation. This would be particularly true if the cancer had spread to their liver-which reports seem to intimate was the case with Mr. Jobs.Of course, a middle-class person couldn't afford to donate $100 million to a hospital either. I'm not saying Jobs did this, but if such an offer was made by someone, the odds of a liver suitable for transplant materializing would be pretty darn high!

[rhs648]

Lets assume a $100,000,000 donation would get someone like Steve Jobs a liver transplant. What is wrong with that. For the most part, it would be a win win for both Jobs and the hospital, and the hospital's patients. That being the case, it makes good sense to take care of the highest bidder first. Aside from that, Steve Jobs has contributed muuch through the technological advances he has fostered, the employment of many thousands of people, the productivity gains he helped bring about, and perhaps generous contributions to worthwhile causes around the world. All of that should count.

[babooph]

Mantle got a new liver ,though the med guys knew it was hopeless with cancer,now jobs-the Chinese have more $ than the States poor,so the old middle class is now the source of organs for the rich -with their massive tax cuts for so many unending years they can afford it -how nice the "NEW WORLD ORDER IS".

[wordsurf_08]

what?? not salt baked with a side of parsley??