Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) hosted U.S. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) for a bipartisan announcement to introduce new federal legislation aimed at helping expand organ donation and improve access to life-saving transplant opportunities.
The event at Westchester Medical Center honored the legacy of Lauren Shields, a former pediatric heart transplant patient who became an influential advocate for expanding organ donation before passing away earlier this year at age 26. Shields’ efforts led to New York State in 2012 passing Lauren’s Law, which mandated the organ donation designation question be asked at DMV offices across the state. The legislation being introduced by Congressmen Lawler and Gottheimer expands Lauren’s Law to apply to documents at the federal level, such as passport applications and tax forms, to create millions of new opportunities for Americans to consider making a choice that could save someone’s life.
“Lauren Shields dedicated her life to giving others hope, and her legacy will continue to save lives for generations to come. I was proud to call Lauren a friend, and I know firsthand the impact she had on our community and her advocacy of organ donation. This legislation not only honors her life by making it easier for Americans to register as organ donors but it also helps ensure their wishes are reflected across all donor registries. At a time when thousands of Americans are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, this bipartisan legislation is an important step toward expanding access to organ donation and carrying forward Lauren’s extraordinary legacy,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).
“When my mother was battling sarcoidosis, a rare lung disease, she tried valiantly to get a new lung – perhaps the only chance at saving her life. She never received one,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “The bipartisan Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act will build on Lauren’s legacy and make it easier for Americans to register as organ donors, to say yes across our country – just as Lauren would have wanted.”
“As physicians, we see firsthand how a transplant can change a patient’s life, enabling them to regain their strength, return to school, and make plans that once felt out of reach,” said David Lubarsky, MD, Chief Executive Officer of WMCHealth. “None of this is possible without organ donors and their families, and this legislation is a remarkable way to honor Lauren’s legacy and expand the number of patients who benefit from the gift of organ transplantation. Thank you to Congressman Lawler and Congressman Gottheimer for highlighting this critical need, to Lauren’s family for carrying on her advocacy, and all the physicians and organizations across the country that save lives every day.”
Westchester Medical Center is home to the only comprehensive multi-organ transplant program located between Westchester County and Rochester, NY. As a fully UNOS-certified regional hub, WMCHealth’s transplant teams provide highly specialized care for patients with complex medical needs, including those requiring heart, kidney, and liver transplantation. The programs bring together transplant surgeons, physicians, nurses and many other specialists who support patients and their families before, during and long after transplantation.
The event at Westchester Medical Center brought together bipartisan congressional leaders, WMCHealth executives and physicians, Donate Life New York State, LiveOnNY and other local organ donation organizations.