A year after Maria, Puerto Rican kidney patients fear death
Last edited Wed Sep 19, 2018, 10:41 PM - Edit history (1)
A year after Maria, Puerto Rican kidney patients fear death
Danica Coto, Associated Press
Updated 10:04 am CDT, Wednesday, September 19, 2018
VIEQUES, Puerto Rico (AP) — As weeks turned into months, the seats of the small plane began to empty out.
In the beginning, 15 passengers flew from Vieques to the Puerto Rican mainland — refugees from Hurricane Maria. The storm had ruined the only dialysis center on this tiny island, their home; without treatment, the kidney patients would die.
But the thrice-weekly trips have taken a toll on these frail patients. Five have died in this past year from causes ranging from heart failure to cancer, but advocates insist that the very flights that keep the patients alive have hastened their deaths.
The mortality rate is "a high number," said Angela Diaz, director of the nonprofit Renal Council of Puerto Rico. "We obviously cannot dismiss the fact that these are not appropriate conditions. It's vital that (the government) take action as soon as possible. ... As much as they want to avoid the topic, we have to talk about how we're still doing this one year after Maria."
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/A-year-after-Maria-Puerto-Rican-kidney-patients-13240313.php
Editorials and other articles:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016216131
