Delaware News

Governor Carney Signs Bill Allowing Organ Donation for HIV-Positive Donors and Recipients

Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Tuesday, April 25, 2017



Governor also recognized April 2017 as National Donate Life Month in Delaware

Governor Carney signs Senate Bill 17
Governor Carney signs Senate Bill 17.

DOVER, Del.  –  Governor Carney on Tuesday signed into law Senate Bill 17, which allows HIV-positive Delawareans to donate organs to HIV-positive recipients, and allows organs from HIV-positive donors to be used for clinical research.

Governor Carney also signed a proclamation recognizing April 2017 as National Donate Life Month in Delaware.

“Delawareans are compassionate people who understand that organ and tissue donation saves lives,” said Governor Carney. “Our state is already a leader in donor registration. I was proud to sign a proclamation recognizing April 2017 as National Donate Life Month in Delaware and to sign Senate Bill 17, which makes common sense changes to allow even more Delawareans to benefit from the compassion of others and live fuller lives.”

“We’ve come a long way since the 1980s,” said Senator Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, who sponsored the legislation. “This legislation reflects major advances in our scientific and medical understanding of HIV, and it offers an opportunity to substantially improve quality of life and life expectancy for transplant recipients with and without HIV.”

“Our healthcare laws should be driven by research and medical advances and we should do what we can to erase the fear and stigma of previous policies,” said Representative Dave Bentz, D-Newark. “Senate Bill 17 ultimately will help save lives and I am happy that we have paved the way for more people in Delaware to receive the gift of life.”

Governor Carney was joined at the bill signing by Speaker of the Delaware  House of Representatives Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, an organ donor; members of the Gift of Life Donor Program, a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware; and organ and tissue donation advocates.

“The need for organ and tissue donors is extensive and affects people across our community.” said Howard M. Nathan, President and CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program. “We salute Delaware for its continued advocacy and commitment to our mission.”

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Governor Carney Signs Bill Allowing Organ Donation for HIV-Positive Donors and Recipients

Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Tuesday, April 25, 2017



Governor also recognized April 2017 as National Donate Life Month in Delaware

Governor Carney signs Senate Bill 17
Governor Carney signs Senate Bill 17.

DOVER, Del.  –  Governor Carney on Tuesday signed into law Senate Bill 17, which allows HIV-positive Delawareans to donate organs to HIV-positive recipients, and allows organs from HIV-positive donors to be used for clinical research.

Governor Carney also signed a proclamation recognizing April 2017 as National Donate Life Month in Delaware.

“Delawareans are compassionate people who understand that organ and tissue donation saves lives,” said Governor Carney. “Our state is already a leader in donor registration. I was proud to sign a proclamation recognizing April 2017 as National Donate Life Month in Delaware and to sign Senate Bill 17, which makes common sense changes to allow even more Delawareans to benefit from the compassion of others and live fuller lives.”

“We’ve come a long way since the 1980s,” said Senator Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, who sponsored the legislation. “This legislation reflects major advances in our scientific and medical understanding of HIV, and it offers an opportunity to substantially improve quality of life and life expectancy for transplant recipients with and without HIV.”

“Our healthcare laws should be driven by research and medical advances and we should do what we can to erase the fear and stigma of previous policies,” said Representative Dave Bentz, D-Newark. “Senate Bill 17 ultimately will help save lives and I am happy that we have paved the way for more people in Delaware to receive the gift of life.”

Governor Carney was joined at the bill signing by Speaker of the Delaware  House of Representatives Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, an organ donor; members of the Gift of Life Donor Program, a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware; and organ and tissue donation advocates.

“The need for organ and tissue donors is extensive and affects people across our community.” said Howard M. Nathan, President and CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program. “We salute Delaware for its continued advocacy and commitment to our mission.”

###

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.