A young mother from Nigeria who went to court to get a heart transplant in Britain despite overstaying her visa has died, the Department of Health said on Thursday.
Ese Elizabeth Alabi (29), had been denied top priority for a transplant on the free-care-for-all National Health Service (NHS) allegedly because of tough new rules to discourage ”health tourism”.
”This is a tragic case and we wish to express sympathy for Ms Alabi and her family,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Health, confirming that Alabi had died in hospital on Monday.
”It has involved an extremely sad and difficult process. Organs for transplant, and hearts in particular, are extremely scarce and it is necessary to have clear rules to establish priorities in their allocation,” he said.
”Whilst no person is wholly excluded from receiving an organ, priority is given to those who are entitled to NHS treatment. We believe this to be a lawful, fair and reasonable way of allocating organs, and it is clearly supported by those who work in the field.”
Lawyers for Alabi argued in the High Court in London on May 10 for their client — then identified only as Ms A — to be put at the top of the list for a new heart on the NHS, citing her unusual circumstances.
She came to Britain in September, intending to return home to have the twins she was pregnant with. But when she fell ill, she had the babies in Britain in February, after which her condition got worse — and her visa expired.
She was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart to become enlarged, and was told her only option was a transplant.
But she was then told that new rules meant that while British and European Union citizens would find themselves on a priority ”group one” list for donor hearts, she would be put on a lower, group two list.
There are about 100 people on the group one list at any one time.
Lawyers went to the High Court asking for a judicial review of the rules, but the judge adjourned the case to allow the Home Office to be asked for a decision to give her exceptional leave to remain.
Last Friday, however, she became so ill that doctors said she would not withstand a transplant even if a heart became available.
Alabi’s partner Abiodun Abe, who lives in Grays, Essex, east of London, blamed her death on the ”health tourism” rules intended to discourage people from outside Britain from deliberately exploiting free NHS care.
”I am so angry. I love Britain and I thought it was a fair place but my wife has died because of these laws,” Abe told the Independent newspaper.
”Ese was devoted to God and was a good person. She always had faith that the judge would be good to her and that she would get a heart but it didn’t happen.” – Sapa-AFP