The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Centers for Disease Control have drafted a law amendment to allow human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients to donate organs to other HIV-positive patients, which is considered a step toward better protection of the nation’s human rights.
An amendment to the HIV Infection Control and Patient Rights Protection Act has been drafted by the centers and is to be sent to the Legislative Yuan for review, CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said on Wednesday.
If passed, HIV-positive patients would be allowed to donate their organs, but only to others with HIV.
Under current regulations, HIV-positive patients cannot donate organs or receive organ transplants.
Even though there are less than 10 HIV-positive patients waiting for organ transplants in Taiwan — with half of them in need of a kidney — the law amendment shows that Taiwan is placing emphasis on and improving its human rights, Taiwan Organ Registry and Sharing Center Chairman Lee Po-chang (李伯璋) said.
He said that experts have held several meetings this year and have advised the ministry to revise the law on HIV organ transplants.
The ministry’s Department of Medical Affairs Director Wang Tsung-hsi (王宗曦) said her department will convene meetings to discuss the conditions for transplanting different organs.
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