SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 52

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph J. Carraro

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SUPPORT EFFORTS TO REMOVE BONE MARROW FROM THE DEFINITION OF HUMAN ORGANS ILLEGAL TO OBTAIN FOR VALUABLE CONSIDERATION.

     WHEREAS, it is against federal statute to obtain "human organs" for valuable consideration, and bone marrow is included in the definition of "human organs" for the purposes of the statute; and

     WHEREAS, bone marrow, like blood, is a replaceable organ, and the amount of marrow taken for a transplant is replaced in the human body in about four weeks; and

     WHEREAS, about seventy percent of those who need a bone marrow transplant are unable to receive one because of a lack of people being tested and the subsequent difficulty of finding a suitable donor for a particular recipient from those that are tested;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to support efforts to remove bone marrow from the definition of human organs illegal to obtain for valuable consideration; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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