Bill Would Let HIV Patients Donate Organs

By Ginny Skalski

Associated Press Writer

March 12, 2004

SPRINGFIELD IL -- A bill in the Illinois Legislature aimed at letting people with HIV donate their organs to others who have the virus is getting support from some organ donor experts and physicians.

If approved, Illinois would be the first state to allow organ transplants between people who already have the virus that causes AIDS. The legislation has already been approved in the state House, 95-22, and awaits a vote in the Senate.

Experts say such a law could spark a movement in other states to eliminate a prohibition against such procedures.

Opponents of the legislation worry there are not enough controls to prevent infected organs from accidentally being given to someone who does not have HIV.

No organizations have publicly opposed the legislation except the Illinois State Medical Society, which wants language in the law preventing doctors from being held liable if the virus is accidentally transmitted during surgeries.

Currently, HIV-infected organs are discarded to prevent their transplant. But some doctors say the organs could be used to prolong the lives of HIV patients, who are already living longer because of advances in medicine.

If it passes, Illinois would still have to work with the United Network for Organ Sharing - which coordinates the nation's organ transplant system under contract with the government - to change rules that prohibit such procedures.

"The original law was actually put in place for a very good reason," said Dr. Robert Murphy, a professor of infectious disease at Northwestern University. "But nobody thought through the fact that an HIV person might actually benefit from the infected organ."

Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, who is HIV-positive, developed the bill after talking with Murphy during a routine doctor's visit.

Copyright © 1996-2004 Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

This article posted April 4, 2004.