U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli introduced legislation to not permit hospitals from denying life-saving organ transplants based on a patient’s COVID-19 vaccination status after a case involving a 12-year-old Indiana girl in that situation attracted publicity.

Rulli, R-Salem, and U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, an Indiana Republican, introduced the COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act after the parents of 12-year-old Adaline Deal said Cincinnati Children’s Hospital denied a heart transplant for their daughter because she hasn’t received the COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot.

The bill would prohibit federal funds from being provided to entities that refuse to provide treatment based on COVID-19 vaccination status.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the Committee on Ways and Means.

Rulli said: “This is sick.

This is inhumane. This is unacceptable. No child should be left to die because of a rigid and politically-driven hospital policy.”

The girl’s parents say vaccines conflict with their religious and medical beliefs. The family lives in Batesville, Indiana, about 50 miles from the Cincinnati hospital. Adaline’s mother, Jeneen Deal, is related to Vice President J.D. Vance’s half-siblings through marriage.

In a statement, the hospital said: “Our responsibility is to ensure that every donated organ is used in a way that maximizes successful outcomes for children in need.”

It added: “Because children who receive a transplant will be immunosuppressed for the rest of their life, vaccines play a critical role in preventing or reducing the risk of life-threatening infections, especially in the first year.”

Janeen Deal posted on Facebook: “Adaline will need to be put on the heart transplant list soon. The heart failure team told me they won’t put her on the list unless we give her the COVID shot and the flu shot. I was like u would let her die if I refuse. That’s their policy, she said. How nuts is that!”

Rulli said: “The science on these vaccines is far from settled and people deserve the right to make their own medical choices without being condemned to death by hospital bureaucrats. This bill puts an end to these disgusting, heartless mandates and makes sure no one is ever denied a transplant over their personal or religious beliefs.”

Houchin, whose district includes the Deals’ hometown, said: “Denying a child a life-saving transplant over a COVID-19 vaccine is not science, it’s cruelty. Hospitals exist to save lives, not impose politically-driven medical mandates on vulnerable patients. Families deserve the freedom to make the best medical decisions for their loved ones, without fear of being blacklisted from live-saving care.”