A teenage cancer patient has tragically died after being denied a vital lung transplant.
Dazelle Peters, 17, who was diagnosed with leukemia four years ago, lost her life in hospital on Monday morning.
Her father, Josh Peters Heartbreaking news In a video uploaded on several social media platforms.
He thanked everyone who sent messages of support to Dazell during his long battle with cancer, with tributes pouring in.
“Please know that Dazelle knew how much you all loved her,” he said.
Dazelle Peters (pictured), 17, who was diagnosed with leukemia and required life-saving treatment, died in hospital on Monday.
“This kid is special and he deserves to be treated better.”
Hundreds of people took to social media to remember Dazell and offer their condolences.
“Rest in peace Dazell. Condolences to you and your family,” one person wrote.
“Dazelle, I admire your courage, strength and the unconditional love you share. [with] “There's lots,” said another.
Australian boxer George Kambosos Jr., who met Dazelle at the hospital, wrote an emotional post on X:
“Rest in peace beautiful Dazzle. Heartfelt condolences to your family. Heaven has welcomed a beautiful angel. Dazzle you will never be forgotten. An inspiration to all you met. God bless your parents for being there for you as you finally take your wings. Life is cruel,” he wrote.
Hundreds of people, including Australian boxer George Kambosos Jr. (left), expressed their grief on social media after Dazell (centre) died in hospital.
Dazell needed a double lung transplant to treat leukemia, a type of blood cancer, but had refused to get vaccinated against the new coronavirus.
The hospital said that while Dazell had not been placed on the waiting list because he had not received the COVID-19 vaccine, there were other reasons as well.
She underwent a bone marrow transplant in May 2021 and suffered from graft-versus-host disease, in which the immune system attacks the donor's blood cells.
She also has a rare form of pneumonia and experts at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney said Dazell was a possible immunocompromised patient and needed to be vaccinated.
A hospital spokesman previously said the hospital's “policies and guidelines do not support transplants in unvaccinated individuals.”
“Vaccination status against a range of infectious diseases is an important part of this assessment in order to maximise the chances of survival after transplant,” a St Vincent's Hospital spokesman said.
Peters previously claimed that doctors at the hospital told her daughter that if she wasn't vaccinated and contracted COVID-19, she would be a “huge threat to everyone”. [in the hospital] Someone who did the right thing.”
“The doctors made us not want to have her have a lung transplant,” Mr Peters, 45, previously told Daily Mail Australia.
Peters claims that during an appointment at St Vincent's Hospital, doctors told him that because Dazell was a “complex case”, the hospital would donate his lungs to a more suitable candidate.
Josh Peters (right) previously claimed that doctors at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney told him Dazzell would pose a threat to other patients in the hospital if he did not get vaccinated.
Ms Dazzell's case was made known by a letter from outspoken Liberal MP Russell Broadbent to federal Deputy Health Minister Ged Carney.
“The Australian Government cannot interfere with clinical decisions,” Carney advised.
“The priority and treatment given to an individual is ultimately a clinical decision made by the treating hospital and transplant team,” she said.
She clarified that there is no formal order barring unvaccinated people from undergoing transplants.
“The guidelines do not prevent patients who have not received the COVID-19 vaccination from being placed on the transplant waiting list,” Carney said.
She also said each state and territory was responsible for “the delivery of health services in their jurisdiction, including hospital and transplant services”.
Federal Health Secretary Ged Carney said the Government “cannot interfere with clinical decisions” when it came to Dazzle's health (pictured).
A St Vincent's spokesman said the hospital's “policies and guidelines do not support transplants in unvaccinated individuals.”
The Peters family's nightmare began when Dazell was found collapsed in her bedroom and she has since been in and out of Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital..
Although the severity of Dazell's condition decreased while he was receiving treatment at the hospital, the strain on his body from the various treatments over the years caused damage to his kidneys, liver and heart.
Peters previously told Daily Mail Australia that Dazzle had made her own decision not to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It's clear that Mr. Dazzell does not want to be vaccinated,” Peters said.
“We can't force her, and we know the hospital can't force her.”
According to the TGA, COVID-19 vaccines may cause some side effects.
The most frequently reported symptoms include injection site reactions (such as a sore arm) and more common symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, fever, and chills.
Australian government health guidelines indicate COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with chronic health conditions.
Patients receiving end-of-life care are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus.
Australian cancer patients can decide whether to get vaccinated and can make this decision in consultation with their healthcare staff.
Peters (pictured center with his daughter, Dazelle) said his daughter had made it clear she did not want to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
