California rushes to allow HIV-infected organ transplant

Surgical Team Working In Operating Theatre (iStock)

SACRAMENTO – California lawmakers are rushing to approve legislation Friday that would allow a man with HIV to receive part of his HIV-positive husband's liver before the surgery becomes too dangerous, possibly within weeks.

The federal government recently authorized transplants of HIV-infected organs to patients who have the disease, but it's still illegal under California law and in more than a dozen other states.

The University of California, San Francisco Medical Center is one of four U.S. hospitals authorized to transplant HIV-infected organs.

Transplant surgeon Dr. Peter Stock says he hopes to perform the operation quickly, but he'll need time to do tests and preparation on the patients after getting the green light from lawmakers.

There are 65 HIV-positive patients waiting for kidney or liver transplants at the hospital.