[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 42 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONCERNING ORGAN PROCUREMENT AREA IN KENTUCKY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2000

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, April 4, Mr. Dingell referenced the 
different waiting times for liver transplants between the two Kentucky 
transplant centers. As you might know, both centers are in the same 
organ procurement area (OPA). The different waiting times are the 
result of the different status levels of the individuals on the waiting 
list. It is not a reflection of geographic unfairness. Seriousness of 
condition, not time on the waiting list, is the determining factor for 
who gets a liver transplant. As the Institute of Medicine report 
stated, aggregated waiting time is a poor measure of equity in the 
transplant field.
  At the request of both Kentucky organ transplant centers, I was 
pleased to cosponsor H.R. 2418, the Organ Procurement and 
Transplantation Network Amendments Act. Let's keep important transplant 
decisions with the physicians and transplant centers who actually save 
lives. Let's keep the Washington, bureaucrats out of this issue.

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