4363 - Waiting lists for organs.

§  4363.  Waiting  lists  for  organs.  1.  All  organs  retrieved for  transplantation in New  York  state  shall  be  allocated  according  to  waiting  lists  developed  by  the organ procurement organization in the  service area in which the organ is  procured,  provided,  however,  that  nothing  herein  shall  preclude  the  exercise  of  medical judgment in  determining the  suitability  of  a  proposed  recipient  to  receive  a  particular  organ,  and  provided  further, however, that if an organ is  brought into a service area of an organ  procurement  organization  from  the  service  area  of another organ procurement organization, the organ  shall be allocated according to the waiting list developed by the  organ  procurement organization in the service area in which the organ is to be  implanted. Nothing in this section shall prohibit:    (a) an individual donor from designating the recipient of an organ;    (b)  organ  sharing  with  other  organ  procurement  organizations in  accordance with federal and state standards including standards to  meet  the  needs  of  patients  who  are  highly sensitized and for whom it is  difficult to identify a suitable kidney due  to  conditions  such  as  a  blood  transfusion,  immunization,  prior pregnancy or a previous failed  kidney transplant;    (c) organ  sharing  with  other  organ  procurement  organizations  in  accordance with organ sharing agreements approved by the commissioner.    2.  No  organ procurement organization designated to serve any part of  New York state shall  place  any  person  on  a  waiting  list  for  the  allocation of organs for transplantation if that person is listed on any  other  waiting  list  for the allocation of that organ maintained by any  other organ procurement organization designated to serve any part of New  York state.    3. No person may place his or her name  on  a  waiting  list  for  the  allocation   of  organs  for  transplantation  maintained  by  an  organ  procurement organization designated to serve any part of New York  state  if  the person is listed on any other waiting list for the allocation of  that organ  maintained  by  any  other  organ  procurement  organization  designated to serve any part of New York state. Each facility performing  transplant  services  shall  inform a patient of the prohibition against  being  placed  on  multiple  waiting  lists  before  arranging  for  the  placement of the patient on a waiting list.    4.  In  policies  and  procedures  for  distributing  organs, no organ  procurement organization  shall  consider  or  give  any  preference  to  patients  in  a  facility  based  upon  the  facility's  past or present  procurement performance or its past or present relationship with a donor  hospital.