Federal action raises questions as organ donation leaders address trust

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Organ donation is facing new questions after recent federal action targeting organ procurement groups, but leaders at a national transplantation conference in Milwaukee say the developments should not discourage people from considering donation.

Laura Miller Miller family

For Susan Angel Miller, organ donation became personal 17 years ago when her 14-year-old daughter, Laura, died from a brain tumor.

“She was a freshman in high school, and she really was an incredible person,” Miller said.

After Laura's death, Miller was asked if her daughter could become an organ donor.

“That’s a hard question to be asked when we were in shock and it was the worst day of our lives,” Miller said.

Miller said she agreed to donation. Laura's liver was transplanted into a woman in New York named Trish O’Neill.

“This woman had been in a liver coma for 10 days and Laura’s liver was transplanted into Trish,” Miller said.

Trish O’Neill CBS 58

According to the New York Times, the federal government recently cut ties with a nonprofit in Kentucky, Network for Hope, after finding the group tried to pursue organs from critically ill people recovering from their injuries.

The developments have raised concerns and mistrust surrounding organ donation.

Susan Angel Miller CBS 58

“There’s mistrust in the community. For example, some people think there’s a heart on my driver's license they will not take care of me or take me to the ER. That is false. Hospitals have no knowledge who is a registered organ donor,” said Woodlhey Ambroise, president of the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation.

Ambroise encouraged people to learn more about how organ donation works.

“I would advise people to educate themselves on organ donation and how it’s done. It’s the ability to save a life,” Ambroise said.

Miller said she has seen that impact firsthand through her daughter.

“Her liver physically saved the life of a woman who was hours away from not surviving, that is powerful in itself,” Miller said.