About TRIOMission Statement
Transplant Recipients International Organization applauds new HHS regulations on organ donation for its patients-first approach(Washington, DC) Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc., (TRIO) representing more than 4,000 organ and tissue donors, recipients and transplant candidates, today hailed Secretary Donna Shalala's release of new organ allocation regulations as a tremendous step towards an equitable distribution of this life-saving resource. Bruce Weir, National President of TRIO and a heart transplant recipient (1988), said based on the initial review and a briefing he attended, he believes TRIO's major areas of concern affecting patients have been addressed. "TRIO applauds Secretary Shalala's leadership on this vital issue," Weir said. "TRIO's preeminent concern is the fair sharing of organs among the nation's 58,000 transplant candidates. We believe these new regulations can ensure more equitable sharing of organs while leaving delicate medical decisions with physicians, because the guidelines place medical urgency over geography. In addition, the new regulations' standardization of waiting-list criteria and allocation of organs based on 'greatest medical need' can only lead to better responsiveness to the transplant community we serve." Weir, who is based in Cleveland but came to Washington to attend the briefing on the regulations at the Department of Health and Human Services, noted a tremendous amount still needs to be done to close the tragic disparity between the number of transplant candidates and the supply of donated organs. "In an ideal system, all transplant candidates would have an equal ( and brief ( wait," Weir said. "Unfortunately, we're far from that goal. More than 58,000 Americans are awaiting an organ transplant. At the current pace of organ availability, every day ten transplant candidates will die with their name on the waiting list. Increased awareness about this life-saving gift is greatly needed because this is a crisis with a cure." Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc., founded in 1983, is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life of transplant candidates, recipients, their families and the families of organ and tissue donors. With more than 4,000 members and nearly 50 chapters internationally, TRIO works to increase awareness about the need to donate organs and tissues, support and educate transplant candidates, recipients, donors and their families, as well as to advocate on their behalf. Return to top |
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