Michigan Advances Bill Allowing Organ Donation From People With HIV

Legislation that passed last week in the Michigan House would allow patients with HIV to donate organs to HIV-positive patients.

The law passed unanimously. The bill now heads to the state Senate for further approval. It would bring the state in line with the federal Organ Policy Equity Act, or HOPE Act, of 2013. The HOPE Act lifted the ban on using organs of those with HIV in transplants.

Michigan already allows organs of those with HIV to be recovered and taken outside of the state. The new law will allow the organs to be given to someone in need within the state, according to WLNS.

“Allowing these transplants will also increase the total pool of available organs for all transplant recipients, regardless of their HIV status,” bill sponsor Rep. Felicia Brabec said, reported the Associated Press. “That means that this legislation would be saving the lives of both HIV positive and HIV negative patients right here in Michigan.”

Michigan has about 2,500 people on organ transplant waiting lists, Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, said, according to the outlet. A small portion of those individuals have HIV.

“It’s very appropriate that we’re doing this in this particular month. We want all people to be able to be donors who wish to be and this would provide the HIV-positive community that opportunity to do so,” Dils said, referring to Pride Month.