Disability advocates seek Kansas law blocking organ transplant discrimination

Topeka photographer Sarah Long placed a picture of her 4-year-old daughter next to a microphone Wednesday to illustrate the need for a state law prohibiting denial of organ transplants to persons with a disability solely due to that condition.

Her child, Willow, has Down syndrome and has undergone three open-heart surgeries to correct a congenital defect.

“I would like to believe that the world values my daughter enough that if her condition worsened and there was need for a heart transplant, that she would not be discriminated against because she happens to have an extra chromosome,” Long said.

Long appeared before the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee in support of House Bill 2343, which was adopted by the Kansas House during the 2017 legislative session. After testimony from several proponents, the Senate committee voted to approve the bill. No individual or organization opposed the measure.

Read more: http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2018-01-11/disability-advocates-seek-kansas-law-blocking-organ-transplant