STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1440

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 52

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.R. No.52 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING ALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN HAWAII THAT PERFORM ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION TO CONSIDER PLACING HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS WHO NEED AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT ON AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT WAITLIST,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge all health care providers in Hawaii that perform organ transplantation to consider placing HIV-positive patients who need an organ transplant on an organ transplant waitlist.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that in 2011 there were at least 2,425 people in Hawaii living with HIV or AIDS.  Your Committee further finds that most people infected with HIV who use highly active antiretroviral therapy tend to die from end-stage organ disease and organ failure that result from chronic conditions rather than AIDS-associated opportunistic infections.  In the event of organ failure, an organ transplant is often an HIV-positive person's only chance of survival.

     Your Committee additionally finds that under certain circumstances, HIV-positive patients are good candidates for organ transplantation and have positive post-transplant outcomes, and there is no legitimate reason to deny HIV-positive patients an organ transplant solely due to their HIV status.  Accordingly, this measure urges health care providers in Hawaii that perform organ transplantation to consider placing HIV-positive patients who need an organ transplant on an organ transplant waiting list.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 52 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair