News Blog

By Rod Boshart
The Gazette

DES MOINES — U.S. Senate candidate Arthur Small on Monday called for a national computerized registry of organ donors that he said would save thousands of lives annually and help resolve disputes involving family members of deceased donors.

Small, who underwent a successful liver transplant three years ago, said federal officials should follow Iowa’s lead in establishing a donor registry.

He said about 50 percent of the time the wishes of an individual who expressed a desire to donate organs after an untimely death are overruled by family members.

Small, 70, a retired Iowa City attorney and former state legislator, said the issue is important since nearly 70 people receive an organ transplant daily, but another 18 people die because not enough organs are available.

The Democratic candidate for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he was close to death before he underwent his transplant operation in February 2001, but is in “excellent” health now.

“Obviously, I no longer leap tall buildings with a single bound, but I’m in excellent shape,” he said. “. . . I got a second chance and I’m using it.”

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