Inmates in New York State has spend hundreds of millions of tax dollars on inmate care and is one of just a few states who do not require inmates to contribute to their health care. New Yorkers have paid for at least 3 kidnney transplants, and 1 liver transplants, along with at least 7 bone morrow transplants for inmates in recent history.
Pike was sentenced in 1996 to 18 to 40 years for the rape of a 12 year old relative.
UPDATE: Convicted rapist Kenneth Pike has decided that he’s no longer interested in becoming a candidate for a heart transplant according to his sister.
Sharon Cardinal says, “I was just told by the kids he’s decided he don’t (sic) want it. He doesn’t want the heart transplant and I have to stick by his decision.”
Last Thursday, FOX23 News broke the story that Pike was flown from the maximum-security Coxsackie Correctional Facility to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester to be evaluated for a heart transplant.
New York taxpayers are financing all of the 55-year-old convict’s medical treatment.Cardinal said, “I know he’s an inmate. He’s still a human being. He should be treated like a human being.”State Sen. Michael Nozzolio says Pike’s story adds insult to injury.”
This is a total outrage to the taxpayers of this state,” the Rochester area Republican says.
Nozzolio chairs New York State’s Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee. He’s calling for a hearing to examine the process by which inmates are evaluated for life-saving transplants.
Not all lawmakers agree with Nozzolio.
Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari thinks the current law is fine and that prisoners should be entitled to organ transplants.
The Cohoes Democrat told FOX23 News, “I don’t think government – or we in the legislature – should be determining the value of a life.”
Pike is eligible for parole in November of 2013.
Cardinal says Pike doesn’t think he’ll be paroled and that factored into his decision to stop trying to get on the transplant list.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
a12iggymom's Blog 