Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
The provisions of SB1183 outline the responsibilities of covered entities, such as healthcare providers offering organ transplants, to make reasonable modifications to their policies and practices in order to assist qualified individuals with disabilities. This includes ensuring that those with disabilities are not denied organ transplants solely based on their disabilities unless a physician determines that the disability poses a medically significant risk. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the necessity of auxiliary aids and services and encourages the involvement of support networks to aid individuals post-transplant.
SB1183, known as the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, is aimed at prohibiting discrimination against individuals with mental or physical disabilities in the context of organ transplants. The bill recognizes that despite existing laws, discrimination continues to affect the eligibility and treatment of individuals with disabilities in healthcare settings, including organ transplantation. It asserts the need for federal action to enforce existing civil rights protections and ensure equal access to organ transplant services for disabled individuals, regardless of the state in which they reside.
One point of contention raised in discussions surrounding SB1183 is the balance between ensuring access to organ transplants and maintaining medical standards. Opponents of the bill may argue that while it is essential to prevent discrimination, the inclusion of individuals with certain disabilities could complicate medical logistics or patient outcomes. The bill aims to address these concerns by stipulating that health care providers can still make decisions based on medical significance without discrimination based solely on disability, aiming to clarify the thresholds for eligibility and treatment recommendations.