Ah, Brooklyn. Transplant politics

[Guest guest]

Thought this might be of interest.

Cy

New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn) has introduced a

bill proposing that organ donors be allowed to deduct up to $10,000 for

un-reimbursed expenses associated with a donation. Eligible expenses

would include travel, lodging, lost wages. The bill follows an identical law

that was enacted in January in Wisconsin, the first such law in the nation.

Several other states currently have legislatures that are considering

similar legislation. Both Assemblyman Ortiz of NY and Wisconsin Governor

Doyle have stated that they are hopeful such legislation will

encourage more people to become organ donors. Critics have questioned

whether the Wisconsin law and proposed New York law violate the Federal

National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, which prohibits the purchase or

sale of human organ. Officials in both states however, argue that the

Wisconsin law, and proposed New York version only seek to remove financial

obstacles that prevent people from donating. 6,184 people donated organs in

the

United States last year, 5,874 were kidney donors.