Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act

This bill protects people with disabilities who need organ transplants. Hospitals, transplant centers, and other health providers cannot deny, delay, or refuse to list someone for a transplant just because the person has a disability. The national board that helps set transplant policies also may not issue rules that block access based only on disability .

Providers must look at each person’s needs and health, not stereotypes. They may consider a disability only if a doctor decides—after an individualized evaluation—that it truly affects the safety or success of the transplant. If the person has a support network to help follow medical steps after surgery, the fact that they can’t do it all alone cannot be used against them. Providers must make reasonable changes to their policies and offer aids or supports to help people access transplants and related care, unless doing so would fundamentally change the service or be too difficult for the provider. People who believe they were discriminated against can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights for faster review. These protections apply to the entire process: evaluation, waiting list, surgery, and follow-up care, and they do not limit stronger protections under other laws or state rules .

Key points

• Who is affected: Patients with disabilities seeking organ transplants; hospitals, transplant programs, and related health providers; the national transplant policy board .
• What changes: No denying, refusing referral, or refusing to place someone on the waiting list because of disability; must make reasonable policy changes and provide aids; decisions must be based on individualized medical evaluations; support networks count in a patient’s favor; complaints can go to HHS OCR for expedited handling .
• When it applies: Across all stages—evaluation, listing, transplant, and post-transplant care; it also works alongside other disability rights laws and stronger state protections.