Kansas and Missouri Lawmakers Lead 50+ Congressmen & Women In Protesting UNOS Proposal to "Poach Donor Livers"

KANSAS CITY, Kan., Sept. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas and Missouri lawmakers are among 52 Congressmen and women from 14 states who signed a strongly worded letter addressed to Mary Wakefield, administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) with multiple concerns about a proposal being discussed to change donor liver allocation.  The proposal calls for taking livers from the highest donation areas (Midwest, South & Southeast) and giving to bigger coastal cities where organ donation is much lower.  An immediate concern is a public hearing Sept. 16, in Chicago. The full letter is available at: http://bit.ly/HRSALetter

"A review of the agenda for the upcoming meeting indicates there will not be adequate time available for discussion of alternative approaches or viewpoints," lawmakers write. "We urge you to let UNOS know you expect equal time be allotted to viewpoints that differ from the concept paper (proposal)." HRSA is the federal agency that oversees United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

Lawmakers join transplant doctors at The University of Kansas Hospital who worry that reallocating livers will hurt patients in their communities -- like 18-year-old Tyler Blythe.  You may recognize Tyler and his family from a recent Super Bowl commercial.  Tyler is a Kansas farm boy who was headed to K-State this fall when he suddenly suffered liver failure brought on by a genetic condition.  His diagnosis and liver transplant came as a shock to the otherwise healthy teenager who was active on the farm and played football and basketball.  His mother, Debbie Blythe, urges UNOS to put efforts into increasing organ donation rates in underperforming communities so more lives can truly be saved without putting patients like Tyler at risk. (video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrqV88cG1J0)

Members of the transplant community from the greater Kansas City area will travel to Chicago September 16, to participate in the day long public hearing before a UNOS committee. More information is available at: http://www.kumed.com/transplant/organ-donor/liver-allocations

PDF - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/ENR/145937-Liver-Transplant-Infographic-8-22-14.pdf

SOURCE The University of Kansas Hospital