PARK CITY — A man who was initially denied a lung transplant at the University of Utah because marijuana was found in his system has died after suffering complications from recent surgery.
Riley Hancey, 20, of Park City, died Saturday, family announced on a YouCaring page. He was eventually approved for a double lung transplant at at different hospital but died from complications. Hancey just turned 20 last week.
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Hancey was admitted to the University of Utah hospital in December, diagnosed with pneumonia and put on life support two weeks later. He was denied a transplant after marijuana was found in his system.
University of Utah Medical Center says it doesn’t transplant organs for people with active alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug use.
The University of Pennsylvania added Hancey to its transplant list in March and moved him to Philadelphia. He received the double lung transplant March 29.
Hancey's family announced his death on a YouCaring page, writing:
"It has been a long battle to save Riley’s life. We know that in our hearts we gave him every opportunity to survive. He will live in our hearts forever. Riley is now free to climb every mountain, ski the back country, go fishing, and run every river."