A local North Carolina man was recently denied the right to receive a necessary kidney transplant operation because he has yet to endure the COVID-19 vaccination. Occurring in Burke County, North Carolina, Chad Carswell stated that he “will die free” before giving up his freedom of choice and changing his vaccination status. Carwell has reportedly been through many heart surgeries throughout the previous years and has never come across a problem like this one before. “Without (a kidney transplant) there is no telling how much longer I will be here. I have to have a kidney to prolong my life,” the double-amputee patient claimed: Chad’s kidney is currently operating at a swiftly decreasing rate of 4%.
The hospital made a lengthy announcement after the publication of this unsettling news that read: “Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s policy follows the current standard of care in the United States, which is to vaccinate all patients on waiting lists or being evaluated for transplant.” A spokesperson from the hospital staff continued their statement with, “The reason it is recommended is to provide protection for the patient. Transplant patients are at high risk for severe illness if they don’t have pre-existing immunity prior to being transplanted,” they stated. “We understand that some patients may not wish to be vaccinated… Patients can opt to be evaluated at another transplant center.”
Carswell was given the option of transferring to a different medical facility in hopes that they provide the specific treatment that he is searching for unvaccinated patients. However, the ill man is continuing to deny the option of receiving the vaccine in order to regain the physical health he desperately needs. “I was born free. I will die free. I am not changing my mind,” he stated. “I have had conversations with my family and everybody who is close to me, and they know where I stand and there will not be a situation that occurs where I’ll change my mind.” With this claim, the future Chad Carswell’s necessary kidney transplant surgery still remains undecided.