Governor extends funding
for organ donor education
Gov. Linda Lingle signed a bill yesterday to extend funding for a program that educates people about organ donations.
The funding comes from a $1 donation that can be designated when registering a motor vehicle.
Lingle said the education program is needed. Many people incorrectly think that because they have checked off the organ donation box on the driver's license application, they are authorizing an organ donation, she said.
But the governor said the actual decision about an organ donation must be made by a person's survivors.
Anita Swanson, executive director of the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, said that the money is divided between the Donor Family Council and Minority Donor Education Program, which is a coalition of Filipino civic and social clubs.
Swanson said all the proceeds go to education.
"We need more awareness in the community for how organ donor decisions are made to relate that to cultural and religious beliefs," Swanson said.
The bill signing makes permanent a trial program that has been in operation since 2000.
The donation program has collected $20,000 during that time.
Lingle also signed into law a bill that allows diabetics who use insulin to get commercial driver's licenses, which previously was illegal.
"This blanket ban against drivers who need insulin forces some drivers to avoid medical attention rather than admit to their diabetes and risk losing their driver's license," Lingle said.
Lingle also said she is considering vetoing two medical related bills that provide emergency contraception.
One bill would require hospitals to tell sex assault victims about the availability of emergency contraceptives, also known as the "morning-after pill," and provide them if requested.
The other bill would allow pharmacists to give women emergency contraceptives to prevent pregnancy.
Lingle has until June 23 to tell the Legislature which bills she intends to veto.