Transplant advocacy in the era of the human immunodeficiency virus organ policy equity act

In 2013, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act was passed to permit the conduct of research on the transplantation of organs from donors infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into recipients who are HIV-positive. The HOPE Act workshop had many objectives including the discussion of the ethical issues involved in HIV-positive to HIV-positive transplantation, the informed consent process, and the role of independent advocates in the context of HIV to HIV transplantation. As of 2018, 22 transplant hospitals are approved, or undergoing approval, to perform HIV-positive to HIV-positive transplant surgeries, and this number is expected to grow. This study aims to: (i) briefly review the history and research of HIV+ transplantation prior to the HOPE Act, (ii) describe the ethical principles supporting the HOPE Act, (iii) characterize the informed consent process, and (iv) provide guidance regarding the role of independent advocates in the context of HIV-positive to HIV-positive transplantation.