House · HR 1520 · 119th Congress
Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
Summary
This bill stops doctors and hospitals from denying organ transplants to people just because they have a physical or mental disability. A doctor can only consider a disability if it is proven, through an individual review, to be medically important to the transplant. People who feel they were treated unfairly can file a complaint with the federal Office for Civil Rights.
In Favor
Many disabled people have been refused organ transplants because of their disability, even when they were otherwise healthy enough to receive one. This bill forces doctors to judge each person individually and fairly. It also requires hospitals to make reasonable changes so disabled patients get the same chance at life-saving care as everyone else.
Against
This bill limits transplant teams' ability to weigh all medical factors freely, which can direct scarce organs away from candidates with the highest survival odds. The reasonable accommodation requirement forces hospitals to change intake and evaluation procedures, adding real compliance costs. Doctors who apply standard medical judgment now face federal civil rights complaints as a direct consequence.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
The bill aims to stop health care providers from denying organ transplants to people solely because of a physical or mental disability. It targets cases where disability alone, not medical need, drives a transplant decision.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The provisions stay on topic, covering transplant access, related care, evaluation, listing, and post-transplant treatment for people with disabilities.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
People with disabilities seeking organ transplants gain new legal protections. Hospitals, transplant centers, and licensed health care providers take on new duties to avoid disability-based denials and to adjust their policies when needed.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill does not authorize or appropriate specific dollar amounts. It shifts costs onto covered health care entities, which must adjust policies, provide support tools, and handle compliance. The Department of Health and Human Services bears costs to review and resolve discrimination claims.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
Determining whether a disability is medically significant requires an individual evaluation by a physician, which could be applied differently across providers. The bill also requires entities to show when policy changes would be too burdensome, which may lead to disputes about what qualifies.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 10/13/2026