Rochester, N.Y - There are 49 people on the waiting list for a new heart at Strong Memorial Hospital.

13WHAM News has learned that a convicted rapist serving up to 40 years in prison, is being evaluated for a possible heart transplant.

Kenneth Pike, 55, was convicted in 1996 of raping and sodomizing a 13-year-old girl in Auburn, N.Y. He is serving his sentence at a state prison in Greene County.

Law Enforcement sources indicated that Pike was flown by Mercyflight to Strong last week and is being evaluated for a heart transplant.

Patient Information, a service at Strong Hospital, confirmed they have a patient by the name of Kenneth Pike who is in guarded condition.

Strong Hospital would not comment, citing HIPPA Privacy laws. The New York State Department of Corrections also declined comment.

13WHAM News also learned Pike is under 24 hour watch by Corrections Officers at Strong Hospital.

Strong Hospital did release a statement saying it is ethically responsible to treat all people in need of care. That statement goes on to say:

"Strong Hospital doctors, nurses and staff members are committed to providing that care without discrimination. We believe in and follow the organ allocation policies and guidelines of the federally regulated OPTN/United Network for Organ Sharing, which ensures equal consideration for transplantation and access to donated organs."

A heart transplant costs over $800,000. Though most insurance companies cover the procedure, it would be taxpayers in New York who would pay if a state inmate were to receive this surgery.

State Corrections Officials say four other inmates in past years have received kidney or liver transplants; 7 others had bone marrow transplants.

When I read the thread title, my assumption was that the hospital was evaluating a still-alive rapist for the possibility of removing his heart and giving it to someone else.

I kinda like my version better.

While I think that a prisoner should have ZERO rights... would I really want to knowingly cause the death of someone who needs the transplant?

Who gets to make that decision....
1
2
3
NOT IT!

"First do no harm."

And what about other prisoners? While I'm tempted to say "**** him" about this guy, what about some shmuck in for something minor? Yeesh, that's a slippery slope.

If somehow he was going to be paying for the transplant, I wouldn't give two shits. But the fact is that taxpayer money is going to be spent on this bullshit if he actually does get the heart transplant. That doesn't sit right with me at all.

No he shouldn't get a transplant. By committing this crime he has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he does not wish to participate in society. Why should he ever reap the benefits while he is paying that debt? Once that's done? Absolutly. On the taxpayer dime? Never.

Just **** rapists.

A few more thoughts. A person should be able to sell their organs. So if this guy needs a heart, and can sell a kidney for it or get the cost of the transplant covered by his donation- by all means do so.