Drug Abusing Mom Gets Second Taxpayer Funded Liver Transplant

This is jacked up especially when the tax payers have to foot the bill for such irresponsibility:

TAXPAYERS may have to foot the bill for a dying drug user’s flight to New Zealand for life-saving surgery.

Claire Murray, a 24-year-old mother-of-two, has been told by doctors that she only has months to live if she does not receive a liver transplant.

It would be her second transplant after years of drug abuse, including heroin and amphetamines, PerthNow reports.

She has admitted to taking drugs after her first liver transplant last year – but has pledged to make the most of her second chance at life after being told she could not be considered for a second transplant in WA.

Health Minister Kim Hames said there were seven other people in WA who were waiting for their first liver transplant.

He said it would be “patently unfair” for Ms Murray to jump the queue for a second liver.

But Dr Hames said the State Government was prepared to pay for her and her father to travel to New Zealand so she could be considered for a “live” liver transplant.  [PerthNow]

I don’t understand why the state is allowing her to jump in line ahead of other people waiting for a transplant?  The state at least should make her or her parents pay for this transplant.  She can afford to buy enough drugs to destroy two livers, but can’t afford enough money to at least pay for a plane ticket to New Zealand?  I wonder if such cases like this goes on with MEDICAID in the US?