Hunger Strikers Take Demands To Northwestern Hospital

By aaroncynic in News on Aug 5, 2013 3:00PM

A group of protesters, some of whom have been on a hunger strike for more than a week, set up camp in front of Northwestern Memorial Hospital Sunday night. Dozens of people, including the hunger strikers, family members and supporters, picketed in front of one of the hospital’s main buildings on Huron yesterday, demanding it add undocumented persons to its transplant lists.

The group says that it’s unfair both undocumented and uninsured persons can provide organs for transplant, but have a nearly impossible time receiving them. “We believe that this is a fight for life,” said Father Jose Landaverde, one of the 14 people participating in the hunger strike. Landaverde said many of the people in need of transplants are on dialysis and have been referred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but it refused to add the patients to its lists. He also said hospital officials so far refuse to meet with his group:

“We’ve been calling them, they don’t answer the phones. On Friday, when we came here, they told us we would be arrested. They told us if we delivered a letter they would throw it in the garbage. They’re treating us very inhumanely.”

Northwestern has yet to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the group plans to hold another press conference and make another attempt at delivering a letter expressing their wishes to meet with hospital CEO Dean Harrison this morning. Maria Garnica, another hunger striker said “This hospital is not about health care, it is all about money. I want to ask Mr. Harrison, if you can take organs from us, how come you will not give us organs when we need a transplant?”