Hopkins Announces First HIV-Positive Organ Transplants

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A first-of-its-kind surgery is giving new hope to those living with HIV. Johns Hopkins doctors announce they successfully performed HIV to HIV organ transplants.

George Solis explains what makes this surgery particularly groundbreaking.

These are procedures that were considered illegal for more than two decades. They could now save thousands of lives by keeping HIV patients off lengthy transplant lists.

On Wednesday, Johns Hopkins doctors announced the successful, first-ever transplants of a kidney and liver from HIV donor to HIV recipient.

These procedures were made possible by the passing of the Hope Act in 2013, which overturned a ban on letting HIV-positive people donate organs.

"This opens the doors for so many more of these kind of transplants to happen, so many lives of people with HIV saved by these transplants," said Dr. Dorry Segev, Johns Hopkins.

Right now in the U.S., there are an estimated 120,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ.

Hopkins doctors estimate anywhere from 500 to 600 organs from HIV-positive donors have gone to waste.

Organs, Morris Murray tells WJZ, he could have used seven years ago, but couldn't get because hospitals were also forbidden from using HIV-positive organs.

"I wouldn't have gotten as sick as I did, to get to the point that I had to get liver cancer," he said.

For him, the surgery's success is a win long overdue.

The Hope Act doesn't just allow HIV to HIV transplants to happen, it allows HIV donors to participate as well--making way for a larger pool of organs for HIV patients.

"If something should happen to me, I wouldn't want that liver to be wasted," said Murray.

A second chance at life that no longer has to be wasted.

"A thousand new transplants every year? If we can really reach, that would be a huge increase in the number of transplants," Dr. Segev said.

The family of the donor wanted to remain anonymous. Both of the organ recipients are doing well.

April is National Donate Life Month--a push to get more people to become organ donors.