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Stop Organ Trafficking Now

File:SOTN.jpg
Established	2013
Type	Non-profit 501(c)(4) organization
Purpose	To make it easier for Americans to donate and receive organs and to combat illegal organ trafficking
Region	Washington D.C.
Board of directors	Sigrid Fry-Revere, J.D., Ph.D. William W. Bauser
Key people	Officers: Sigrid Fry-Revere, J.D. Ph.D. Jumana Dalal Anjali Simone da Victoria Lobo Estrellita J. Fitzhugh, Raj Srivatsan Advisory Alliance: Christopher Taylor Barry, MD, PhD Robert Berman Janet Radcliffe Richards Sally Satel, M.D. Irena Bucci David Undis David F. Diamond Jim Gleason
Website	http://www.stoporgantraffickingnow.org/

Stop Organ Trafficking Now (SOTN) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C with the mission to make it easier for Americans to donate and receive organs and stop illegal organ trafficking . SOTN attempts to educate the public through online resources and documentaries, such as “As Time Runs Out-The Steve Lessin Story”, and proposing a draft bill to Congress that would amend the National Organ Transplant Act to remove the disincentives that hinder living donation .

Description

Stop Organ Trafficking Now is an organization that was founded to solve America’s organ supply crisis, where there is a huge gap in the supply and demand of organs. SOTN addresses the individuals who are currently waiting for organs and the living donors in order to make it easier for organ donations to occur, which will also dissuade people from resorting to the black market to get organs. Strengthening the penalties of illegal organ trafficking is another goal of this organization. SOTN strives to help the public and mend the current system of organ donation through gaining the support of thousands of Americans.

SOTN Act

The Stop Trafficking in Organ Procurement and Transplant Improvement Act of 2014 (SOTN Act) was proposed by this organization in June of 2014 to bring the National Organ Transplant Act back to it’s original intent of increasing the number of organs available for transplant and discouraging illegal organ trafficking (2).The SOTN Act strives to amend and fix the problems with current legislation that place an unwarranted burden on potential American donors and recipients. The SOTN Act contains the following amendments:

1. To remove disincentives (financial and some others) that hinder living donation. An amount of $14,000 is suggested based on the nontaxable gift deduction allowed by the IRS. This measure was used in part because state laws allowing for tax deductions and tax credits for donation related expenses use this same measure. So various states have already determined that this amount is reasonable without being a payment or incentive.
2. To create a dual system to cover living donors expenses— a) A program funded through Medicare that provides a post nephrectomy, but pre-recovery debit card to cover non-medical donation related expenses up to $14,000. Medical expenses are already covered by through the recipient’s insurance. Any funds not used to cover donation related expenses remain with the donor but must be used for health related costs. b) Charities and nonprofits will be allowed to help donors as they see fit.
3. The Act also prohibits profit making on donor / recipient matches by prohibiting “brokering” – or matching donors and recipients for profit.
4. It restricts all donor benefits to the same category of U.S. residents currently eligible for being listed on the organ waiting list.
5. It creates a registry of living donors. All living donors will be placed on a registry and are free to chose to have themselves or one family member placed at the top of the organ waiting list in the donor’s organ transplant region. This is to remove the disincentive so often heard: “but if I donate now, what if I or someone close to me, such as a spouse or child, needs an organ later, then I won’t have one to give?” Creating a registry gives living donors one free donation to themselves or a relative of their choice anytime in the future. Note a registry is not a voucher. One cannot give this opportunity away without verification of relatedness through the registry.
6. Increases the penalties for brokering organ sales to discourage profiteering and encourage altruistic matching.

The SOTN Act is currently circulating through Congress and may get re-drafted multiple times, but the goal of the Act will remain unchanged. A petition by Stop Organ Trafficking Now and the Center for Ethical Solutions towards the U.S. House of Representatives to get the SOTN Act passed has already garnered over 100 supporters.

References

Notes

External Links

• Official website
• Kidney Disease and Organ Shortage Fact Sheet
• Steve Lessin Project