Health
Pa. lawmakers consider changes to organ donations
An effort to update Pennsylvania's organ donation law is raising concerns from state prosecutors and coroners about potential changes to the process by which body parts are obtained for transplantation.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - An effort to update Pennsylvania's organ donation law is raising concerns from state prosecutors and coroners about potential changes to the process by which body parts are obtained for transplantation.
A House legislative panel on Tuesday heard from supporters of the proposal who say the changes incorporate practices currently being used in most other states.
They say the bill would make it less common for usable organs to be wasted and therefore save more lives.
The district attorneys' and coroners' associations say they're worried the proposal could interfere with their responsibility to investigate deaths.
There are about 8,500 people on the state's organ transplant waiting list. In recent years there have been about 1,300 transplants annually in Pennsylvania, while about 400 people on the waiting list die every year.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A House legislative panel on Tuesday heard from supporters of the proposal who say the changes incorporate practices currently being used in most other states.
They say the bill would make it less common for usable organs to be wasted and therefore save more lives.
The district attorneys' and coroners' associations say they're worried the proposal could interfere with their responsibility to investigate deaths.
There are about 8,500 people on the state's organ transplant waiting list. In recent years there have been about 1,300 transplants annually in Pennsylvania, while about 400 people on the waiting list die every year.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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