She is of interest for emerging debate about the rationing of transplant surgery and other advanced health care, where resources are finite, action is expensive and demand is increasing. Her case is notable because she secured a $258,000 two-year interest-free loan from the WA state Government for offshore surgery.
Some time ago she received a taxpayer-funded liver transplant, reportedly needed because of a past heroin addiction. Details of the rationale for ranking her ahead of other claimants for services are not publicly available; presumably consideration was given to her age (early 20s), status as a mother of small children and commitment to desist from substance abuse. Although a liberal democratic state aspires to provide all citizens with access to life-saving health services, some identity attributes are more persuasive than others.
Unfortunately the liver transplant failed, a failure attributed by the mass media to Murray's post-operative use of illicit substances. Such a relapse is not uncommon among former addicts.
Last month WA health authorities in Perth rejected her request for a second liver transplant. The state Government then provided the soft loan, funding surgery in a Singapore hospital. Murray has now died from complications (blood clots in her heart). It is unclear whether the Government will write off the loan as a gesture of benevolence to her family.
Irrespective of her demise, the notion of state Governments providing extraordinary funding for people to travel offshore for surgery is problematical. It is unclear what criteria the WA Government used for assessing Murray's worthiness and whether the mechanisms for rationing health care are transparent and consistent. Can other people, for example those of middle age or without children, expect similar support?
The WA Health Minister Kim Hames is reported by the ABC as saying the young mother's story "captured hearts" -
"She was a much-loved daughter to her parents and a mother to her two sons," he said.Critics will presumably ask whether all people deserve "every chance" and should receive "everything we could [do]", irrespective of whether those people are loved, have young children, are straight, married, photogenic or otherwise.
"She was also an example of what can happen when the scourge of illicit drugs enters the life of a young person."
Mr Hames said the State Government believed Ms Murray "deserved every chance to watch her two young boys grow up".
"I can honestly say we did everything we could to give her that chance," he said.
