Man denied lung transplant because he tested positive for THC, says father

SALT LAKE CITY — All of his 19 years, a Utah man was incredibly active, skiing, river running and biking.

In November, a severe form of pneumonia destroyed Riley Hancey's lungs. He spent days in the hospital before his lungs collapsed and doctors determined he needed a double-lung transplant to live.

But Mark Hancey, Riley Hancey's father, said because his son tested positive for THC — the chief intoxicant in marijuana — he was denied a spot on the transplant list at University of Utah Hospital.

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"Riley did smoke marijuana on Thanksgiving night with his friends," Mark Hancey, told KSL-TV Monday. "It's not like he's a smoker for 30 years and (had) deteriorating lungs because of that."

Mark said his son had been drug-free for a year prior to his illness.

Officials at the University of Utah would not comment specifically to KSL-TV about Riley's case, but they issued a written statement, saying University Hospital follows international guidelines for transplants and evaluates cases individually.

"We do not transplant organs in patients with active alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug use or dependencies until these issues are addressed, as these substances are contraindicated for a transplant," the statement said.

Mark says a doctor told his son, "You will die. You better get your affairs in order." Riley then broke down in tears.

The family didn't give up, and spent months looking for a hospital willing to do the transplant. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania agreed, and Riley and Mark made the trek from Salt Lake City on medical transplant. 

"I looked at Riley and I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this poor soul looks like death,'" Mark Hancey said.

Doctors gave Riley two donor lungs 12 days ago.

Mark said his son will recover at the hospital in Philadelphia for a year and doctors are optimistic he will be able to return to an active life once again.

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