On February 24th, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL-3) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) reintroduced the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act NDSS Supports Reintroduction of the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R. 1520). The bill is named after Charlotte Woodward, an adult woman with Down syndrome who received a lifesaving heart transplant over 13 years ago. Representative Cammack's leadership on the bill was inspired by Baby Zion Sarmiento from Ocala, Florida. Zion was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect in June 2021. Following 40 days in the NICU and five open-heart surgeries, Zion passed away after being denied a heart transplant because of his disability.
This legislation prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the organ transplant system by upholding, clarifying, and building upon rights established in existing civil rights legislation. Additionally, it prohibits covered entities from determining an individual is ineligible to receive a transplant, deny an organ transplant or related service, refuse to refer the individual to an organ transplant center, or refuse to place an individual on a waiting list based solely on the fact that the individual has a disability.
This bill was passed by the House of Representatives during the 118th Congress, but unfortunately didn’t have enough time to pass the Senate. We are currently working with our legislative champions to finalize and introduce a Senate version of this bill.
You can read our letter of support and use our action alert to contact your Member of Congress and urge them to support Charlotte’s Bill! Please see this press release for more information.