SENATE RESOLUTION No. 58

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JULY 25, 1996

By Senator MATHEUSSEN

A Senate Resolution expressing support for the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network.

Whereas, Due to the severe shortage of available organ donors, more than 800 New Jerseyans and nearly 45,000 people nationwide currently await life-saving organ transplants; and

Whereas, The New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network's efforts to increase access to organ transplants for New Jersey citizens have included key legislative and regulatory programs starting with the "Uniform Declaration of Death Act," legislation which governs the practice of the State Medical Examiner, and the "New Jersey Organ Donor Enhancement Act" which requires hospitals to notify the network of all deaths; and

Whereas, The network has also been able to keep the costs of organs used for transplants below the national average, contributing to a more efficient health care system and increasing the growth of organ donation at a rate which far exceeds the national average; and

Whereas, An aggressive public education campaign has resulted in raising the organ donor consent rate 31% from 1991 to 1995; and

Whereas, The network has increased organ donations despite several factors which limit the donor pool in the State, such as high cancer death rates, high HIV infection rates and a low motor vehicle fatality rate; and

Whereas, The minority population in the United States has been tremendously underserved in the area of organ transplantation and the network has defied this trend, providing organs to minorities at a much high rate than the national average; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

    1. This House expresses its support for the significant and life saving efforts of the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network and wishes to recognize all the work the network has done in increasing access to organ transplants for the citizens of this State.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Governor and to all the members of the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network.

STATEMENT

    This resolution expresses the support and the recognition of the Senate for the significant and life saving efforts of the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network and for all the work the network has done in increasing access to organ transplants for the citizens of this State.

Expresses the support of the Senate for the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network.