Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed HB3857, written and sponsored by State Rep. Larry McKeon, into law last week. The bill, the first in the nation, allows the organs of an HIV-positive donor to be transplanted into others who are also infected with HIV. While there are other states who have begun to look into organ transplants from HIV-positive donors, Illinois is the first to make it legal. The bill was signed into law on July 9, 2004.
‘This law is going to save many lives,’ McKeon said. ‘There are numerous HIV-positive patients in the final stages of liver failure who are anxiously awaiting an organ. Now that we can use organs from others who are HIV positive, and an organ match can be made, we have the potential to save and prolong lives.’
The bill was drafted after McKeon met with Dr. Patrick Lynch, Assistant Professor of Medicine and hepatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. ‘HIV patients are living long, healthy, active, productive lives. Because of breakthroughs in medications, HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was,’ Lynch said.