Summer Main to Speak at Emory University’s National LGBTQ Health Conference
Summer Main will be speaking at the National LGBTQ Health Conference at Emory University in Atlanta, GA on June 1, 2019. Her presentation, “From a Concept to Reality: Recent developments stemming from the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act,” will discuss the current state of HIV Organ Policy Equity Act (“HOPE”) legislation and the rights of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in both seeking and donating organs.
While the HOPE Act, first introduced in 2013, seeks to solve the issues involved in organ donation and transplantation for HIV+ patients, the ban on HIV+ organ donation is still only partially lifted, and comes behind a web of red tape. Large-scale clinical trials have been launched, but HIV+ organ donation is still currently limited to only kidneys and livers, and those wishing to participate must be part of an approved study.
It’s vital that those living with HIV/AIDS understand their rights with respect to organ donation and transplantation. No longer legally considered “second-class” citizens in the organ-donation realm, HIV+ patients should understand the current regulatory landscape to best advocate for their rights in this new clinical territory.
For more information on this presentation, click here. 