I am glad I am not the medical board having to decide who goes on the waiting list. I am trying to think of all perspectives in a few years. Person on list number 123 gets a liver transplant. It is now time for person 124 to get a liver transplant (I know it isn't that simple, but this is my made up scenario).
Let's say this foster boy is added to the list as candidate 124. Number 125 would be the very next person to be added to the wait list.
Person 124 (this foster child) gets called up and gets his liver and has a chance to fully recover. However, he is now 17 and will be out of the foster program in a year and simply doesn't have a guaranteed place to recover and do the required follow up care.
How does person 125 feel. I hope that person 125 realizes that his turn will be soon and doesn't mind waiting a little longer. Person 125 is probably frustrated because he has all of the medical recovery requirements taken care of, but number 124 doesn't. Still, I'd hope 125 would be a good sport.
Now what about number 163 that passed away before it was her turn, or 131 that gets severly sick by being just one person later in the list.
OK, now I have rambled as I have thought through this scenario. I have come to the following conclusion. The boy should be added to the list. The potential benefit to him outweighs the slight additional wait for others. This boy deserves just as much of a chance at that liver as anyone else.
Now if it gets close to his turn and the situation is such that he can't be taken care of, that is where the doctors may have to make a tough decision. Until then, let the boy be on the list.
My opinion.