The Living Donor Protection Act: Safeguarding the Rights of Living Organ Donors

Introduction

March is National Kidney Month serves as a reminder of the importance of living organ donors and the need to protect their rights. With bipartisan cooperation, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR), along with U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), have introduced the Living Donor Protection Act to safeguard living donors from high insurance premiums, secure their rights under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), remove barriers to organ donation, and provide certainty to both donors and recipients.

The Importance of the Living Donor Protection Act

Many people die while waiting for life-saving organ donations, and it is crucial to remove the barriers that discourage Americans from donating. The Living Donor Protection Act is a bipartisan effort to ensure that those willing to save a life through organ donation can do so without fear of insurance discrimination or job loss during recovery. This legislation is essential for individuals choosing to become living donors and has garnered support from various political leaders and organizations.

How the Living Donor Protection Act Will Help

The Living Donor Protection Act focuses on three main objectives:

1. Prohibiting life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and charging higher premiums for living organ donors.
2. Amending the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to include living organ donation as a serious health condition for private and civil service employees.
3. Directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update their materials on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.

These measures will provide much-needed protections for living organ donors and promote organ donation.

Support for the Living Donor Protection Act

The bill has received support from numerous groups that advocate on behalf of organ transplantation, including endorsements from the National Kidney Foundation, American Kidney Fund, the American Council of Life Insurers, American Society of Transplantation, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Society of Nephrology, and many more. These organizations recognize the importance of the Living Donor Protection Act in safeguarding living donors' rights and removing barriers to organ donation.

The Challenges Faced by Living Organ Donors

According to a 2014 study in the American Journal of Transplantation, as many as 27% of living organ donors experience difficulty securing or paying for insurance after their procedures because of discriminatory practices. Others face job loss after taking required time off to recover from their donation surgery. The Living Donor Protection Act aims to address these issues by providing clear protections for living organ donors.

‍

‍

Infographic

This infographic developed by the National Kidney Foundation provides a great overview.

Show Your Support

If you would like to show your support, contact your representative and let them know that you support the Living Donor Protection Act. You can find your local representative here.

Conclusion

The Living Donor Protection Act is a critical piece of legislation that will help protect living organ donors' rights and promote organ donation. By providing insurance protection, job security, and support for living organ donors, this act has the potential to save countless lives and improve the quality of life for both donors and recipients. With the backing of numerous organizations and bipartisan support, the Living Donor Protection Act is an essential step in the right direction for organ transplantation in the United States.

‍

Related Articles

‍What Do Your Kidneys Do?

What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

New National Rule Aims to Reduce Racial Bias in Kidney Transplants

UNOS Under Fire From Congress

How Organ Donation and Transplantation Works

References‍

Senators Gillibrand And Cotton, Representatives Nadler And Herrera Beutler Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Protect Organ Donors

Living Donor Protection Act

‍About the Author

Rich Foreman brings over 30 years of technology leadership to his role of CEO and Co-Founder of KidneySoft.  As founding CTO, Rich led the team that developed the CordicoShield / CordicoFire Wellness App. Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021. After achieving a 7 digit ARR, Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington, an MPA from Troy State University and was an officer in the U.S. Navy. Rich co-authored his book, "Tap into the Mobile Economy." Rich's blog was listed in Top 20 Marketing Mobile Blogs of 2014. He has been featured on KCRA3, NEWS10, 1170 Tech AM PowerDrive, Business Radio Money 105.5, SiliconIndia, the Sacramento Business Journal, and the Sacramento Bee. Rich is also the Founding Director of the Sacramento Chapter of Startup Grind and served a term as Utility Commissioner for the City of Folsom. Rich is a regular contributor to TechWire.net and StartupSac. Rich was the Co-founder of Apptology which was named Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber. He was also the Founding Chief Technology Officer at Cordico. Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020.  Rich also served 4 years as a Naval Officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.

‍

Patient Education Disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. KidneyLuv makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely, but makes no guarantee in this regard. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.