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- Press Advisory
- Monday, August 12
- Contact: Fr Jose Landaverde 872-203-4310
- Sarai Rodgriguez Dies While Fighting for Health Care, Hospitals Begin Responding to Escalating Protests
- Chicago, IL . After a seven mile funeral procession for Sarai Rodriguez and an overnight vigil, protesters entered the lobby of Northwestern Memorial Hospital demanding that Sarai Rodtriguez finally be heard. Sarai Rodriguez was 25 years old, and was part of a campaign of fourteen critically ill patients who were denied a place on transplant wait lists because of their inability to pay and because of a lack of legal status. The campaign, called Hunger Strike for Health Care, includes patients, loved ones and community supporters. After an 11 day hunger strike, the campaign was able to begin negotiations with area hospitals. However, these negotiations come too late for Sarai Rodriguez, who died waiting to be evaluated by a transplant specialist.
- "Sarai is with us, and she has come to confront the place that sentenced her to death" stated Father Jose Landaverde, one of the organizers of the Hunger Strike for Health Care. "Her struggle and her death remind us that every day people in need of organ transplants are turned away by hospitals -- not just the undocumented, but also the poor, the uninsured and the elderly are left to die" he stated. "We do not want a private meeting with a hospital representative who will give us more lies, more PR talk," stated Oscar Balbuena, one of the organizers recently on hunger strike on behalf of his mother who needs a transplant. "They denied Sarai her humanity and her life, but she is with us today demanding to be heard." Protesters attempted to enter the hospital with caskets marked with the name of Sarai and other transplant patients. They carried signs reading" Sarai was denied care. How Many More?" and delivered a letter to hospital administrators.
- The campaign of the former Hunger Strikers continues as "Luchando pro La Vida / Fighting for Our Lives". In response to growing public pressure and direct action, Northwestern Memorial Hospital called two transplant patients of the original fourteen and offered to evaluate them for a seat on the transplant wait list, the same way as they would any other patient. Blanca Gomes, a patient and activist, was called on Monday after the protest and offered an appointment within two weeks. In statements and open letters, participants state their campaign would not end until all fourteen patients would be put on the transplant wait lists; additionally , they demand that all patients be evaluated for organ transplants based on need and not based on ability to pay or on immigration status, and that all low-income patients have access to affordable medication after transplant surgery.
- The Campaign continues negotiations with the support of Dr David Ansell from Rush Hosptial, who is heading the initiative of forming a round table of local hospitals to develop a system for treating patients who are currently excluded because they are poor, uninsured or because of their immigration status.
- Previous Press Statements:
- 8.12.13: Protesters Enter NMH with Casket Bearing the Name of Sarai Rodriguez | http://pastebin.com/Kk2Q6EL9
- 8.11.13: Undocumented Immigrants in Need of Transplants March Seven Miles Carrying Caskets to NMH | http://pastebin.com/q3SkzXL1
- 8.9.13: Friday, Hunger Striker Sarai Passes Away; Families Blame NMH | http://pastebin.com/JE2GRdi7
- 8.7.13: Hunger Strikers Relocate to Christ Advocate Medical Center | http://pastebin.com/Vm6DcUCF
- 8.8.13: Hunger Strikers Update on Negotiations with Hospitals | http://pastebin.com/H1gAaJ9D
- 8.5.13: Northwestern Memorial Hospital Says Undocumented Patients Can Be Added to Transplant List | http://pastebin.com/HvB6hh7P
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