Web to 'Net organ donors

By Ikimuusa Sockwell_Mason
The New York Post, March 12, 2001

Sen. Charles Schumer said yesterday he wants to use the power of the Internet to shorten the ever-growing list of people desperately waiting for organ transplants.

New York's senior senator said he would introduce legislation to create a nationwide donor registry, where potential donors can sign up and be matched quickly with people in need.

"In many cases, the current system's lack of coordinated information prevents potential lifesaving matches from taking place." Schumer said. "In almost every case, even when the match has been found, they've wasted precious time."

Under current procedures, when someone dies, the hospital contacts organ-procurement organizations, where someone sifts through records to see if that person was a donor.

A speedier system -- by which people could sign up on the Internet - would be good news for Elliott

Quinones 54, one of thousands of potential transplant recipients waiting for a liver.

Quinones, a married father of three and a grandfather of five, has an iron overload that is causing his liver to shut down.

"I need a new liver ... yesterday." the Yonkers resident said. "I can feel myself getting weaker and weaker.

Quinones is still hopeful that his fate will he be better than his two brothers, who died from the same disease before transplants were an option.

Richard Rodriguez, a firefighter in Yonkers, can relate. He wishes there had been more time for his brother, Robert, who died before a much-needed liver became available.

"We sat with him, held his hand and watched him die." Rodriguez said.

"Each day, about 50 people receive an organ transplant. But another 70 People die because not enough organs are available.

In the past 10 years alone, the need for transplant organs has tripled, Schumer said.

In 1991, there were close to 2,400 New Yorkers waiting for organs. In 2000, the demand was more than 7,500. Throughout the United States, more than 75,000 people are hoping to get that phone call - the one that means a transplant organ has been located for them.

Schumer said the registry and publicity campaign to increase awareness and encourage people to become donors would cost roughly $25 million to $35 million.

New York Post, Monday March 12th 2001