AST Applauds Congressmen Nadler & Burgess for Introducing the Living Organ Donor Protection Act

AST Applauds Congressmen Nadler (D-NY) and Burgess (R-TX) for Introducing the Living Organ Donor Protection Act

Legislation seeks to promote and protect living organ donors from discrimination.

WASHINGTON, DC - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - The American Society of Transplantation (AST), representing the majority of professionals engaged in the field of organ transplantation, applauds the introduction of the "Living Donor Protection Act of 2014" by Congressmen Jerrold Nadler of New York and Michael Burgess, MD of Texas. The legislation seeks to:

1. Prohibit denial of coverage or increase in premiums of life or disability insurance for living organ donors;
2. Clarify organ donation surgery as qualifying as a serious health condition under FMLA; and
3. Update educational materials on the benefits of live organ donation.

The AST worked closely with Congressmen Nadler, Burgess and their staff to develop this important gift-of-life donor protection legislation. The promotion and protection of living donation is a top public policy priority for the Society. The Society’s Public Policy Committee regularly advocates and educates Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the need to protect and encourage living organ donation. “Living organ donation, the gift of a healthy organ given to a patient with kidney, lung or liver failure, is simply an amazing act of human kindness and part of the miracle of transplantation. The Living Donor Protection Act of 2014 supports the future of this form of organ donation by considering the special needs of the living donors and protecting their best interests while they are making this wonderful gift to another human being in need. The AST applauds Congressman Nadler and is proud to support this important and necessary organ donor protection legislation”, stated AST President Dr. Daniel Salomon, MD, from the Scripps Center for Organ Transplantation.

The Society is working with the provider and patient transplant stakeholder communities to garner bipartisan and bicameral support for the Nadler-Burgess legislation. AST’s Public Policy Committee Co-Chairs, Dr. Roslyn Mannon from the University of Alabama Birmingham, MD and Dr. David Cohen, MD, from Columbia in New York, stated, “We are grateful for the leadership of Nadler and Burgess to promote and protect living organ donation." AST looks forward to continuing to work with the Congressmen as well as other Congressional leaders to advance and pass this important legislation.