HIV-Positive Transplants: New Rule Expands Options

You're waiting for a new liver or kidney, and you have HIV. Soon, your wait might get a bit shorter thanks to a new rule from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. This rule, announced recently, means that people living with HIV can receive organs from HIV-positive donors. This isn't new, but before, these transplants had to be part of a research study. Now, they can happen outside of research, too. This change might seem small, but it's a big deal. It means more organs could be available for people with HIV, and it could also reduce the stigma around the virus. Health officials think this will help more people get the life-saving care they need. You might be wondering why this change is happening now. Well, there's evidence that shows transplants between HIV-positive donors and recipients work just as well as those from HIV-negative donors. This rule change only applies to livers and kidneys for now, but there could be more changes coming for other organs like hearts and lungs.