President Barack Obama signed a bill that lifts restrictions on using the organs of HIV-positive individuals and could eventually pave the way for organ donations between HIV-positive patients. The HIV Organ Policy Equity Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support, repeals a ban that had been in place since 1988.
Before the law passed any organ that came from an HIV positive donor had to be thrown away. In 1988, an amendment to the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 banned the transplant of any organ from a person with HIV. The new law could drastically shorten donor waiting lists in some areas with higher populations of HIV positive patients.
“The potential for successful organ transplants between people living with HIV has become more of a possibility,” Obama said. “The HOPE Act lifts the research ban, and, in time, it could lead to live-saving organ donations for people living with HIV while ensuring the safety of the organ transplant process and strengthening the national supply of organs for all who need them.”
Obama concluded in his statement that lifting the ban on HIV organ donation is line with his previous efforts to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
“Improving care for people living with HIV is critical to fighting the epidemic, and it’s a key goal of my National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The HOPE Act marks an important step in the right direction, and I thank Congress for their action,” said Obama.
Kyle Murphy, a spokesperson for the National Minority AIDS Council, said the bill signing demonstrates Obama is committed to “evidence-based solutions” to confronting HIV/AIDS.
“The outdated ban on HIV-positive organ donation left countless infected, but otherwise healthy organs unused while condemning thousands of people living with HIV to languish on transplant wait lists,” Murphy said. “Reforming this policy not only gives hope HIV-positive individuals in need of a new organ, it will also free up uninfected organs for HIV-negative patients.”
The U.S. House passed the HOPE Act by voice vote on November 12th. Although versions of the legislation were introduced in both chambers of Congress, the House approved the Senate-passed version, which the Senate approved in June by unanimous consent.
In the Senate, the bill was introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) along with Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) as original co-sponsors. In the House, Representatives Lois Capps (D-California) was lead sponsor and Andy Harris (R-Maryland) was an original co-sponsor.
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