New organ donation test project includes those who die at home

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New organ donation test project includes those who die at home; could be boon for transplants

BY Heidi Evans
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, August 13th 2010, 4:00 AM

A groundbreaking program that could increase the number of organ donors in New York - and potentially the nation - has cleared a final hurdle, the Daily News has learned.

The six-month test project, which could begin this fall, will allow doctors to approach families within 20 minutes after a loved one dies of cardiac arrest at home - a first in the country.

Currently in the U.S., only people who have died in a hospital are eligible for organ donation. But 95% of cardiac deaths occur at home - or at work or even walking down the street.

"This is a remarkable opportunity for those on the waitlist for organ donation and those who wished to donate before they died," said Dr. Lewis Goldfrank, who spearheaded the three-year effort and is chairman of emergency medicine at NYU and Bellevue Hospital.

The pilot project - which had been okayed by six agencies including the FDNY, EMS and the medical examiner's office six months ago - was on life support waiting for the NYPD to give its okay.

Police officials expressed concern about having enough time to make sure the deceased wasn't a crime victim before doctors in a special "organ preservation" ambulance could transport the body to Bellevue.

After several calls this week from the News, in addition to an Aug. 31 deadline looming to get federal funds, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly was persuaded yesterday the program could work, sources told The News.

The $1.5 million project will include Manhattan neighborhoods within 25-minutes of Bellevue and would involve kidney donation.

Only people who had signed up to be an organ donor on the state registry would be eligible to donate.

About 6,000 New Yorkers are currently awaiting a kidney transplant.

Elaine Berg, president of the New York Organ Donor Network, hailed Thursday's news.

"It's a great step forward," she said.

hevans@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/08/12/2010-08-12_good_news_for_people_who_need_organs.html#ixzz0wcHnPwrV