The Living Kidney Organ Donation Clarification Act

Congress yesterday passed The Living Kidney Organ Donation Clarification Act (S. 487/H.R. 710). This is important legislation for those living with PKD as they enter end-stage renal failure.

Paired Kidney Donation allows for "swapping" of kidneys between patients and willing donors in cases where the willing donors are not suitable matches for those they wish to donate to. For example, say there are two husbands who each want to donate a kidney to their wife, but they find that their kidneys are incompatable. If it turns out that Husband A is compatable with Wife B, and Husband B is compatable with wife A, then they can arrange for the transplants between the compatable, unrelated, donors and recipients, even if they do not know each other. (Gee, the way I tell it it sounds like a reality TV show, doesn't it?)

The potential problem was that since it is illegal to sell a kidney (or any other body part), there was some danger that someone, someday could claim that paired donation was a form of "selling the kidney" and cause a legal hassle for those wishing to pursue this option. This bill, once President Bush signs it, will close that potential loophole.

This is important to me personally, as I am not a compatable donor for Jeanne. Jeanne, and practically her entire side of the family have type O blood. I have type AB. As Jeanne likes to joke, I've "contaminated the blood supply"! Since Jeanne received her transplant when she was just 31, there is a very good chance that she will outlive the transplanted kidney, and need another transplant someday. With Paired Kidney Donation, there is a chance that I could be part of the process that leads to her getting a new kidney.

My thanks to Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and the late Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) for sponsoring this legislation.