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Rhode Island Living Donor Law goes into effect


 Lisa{ }Doucet  { }in the hospital with her children. (Doucet  )
LisaDoucet in the hospital with her children. (Doucet )
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The legislation became law on July 1.

The hope is that it incentives more people to become living organ and bone marrow donors.

Lisa Doucet is one of those applauding this new law.

In February 2019, Doucet donated one of her kidneys to her friend and hairdresser, Cathryn Jamieson.

However, at the time, Lisa had to scrape together six weeks worth of vacation time to do it.

"Rhode Island Hospital has had me talk to potential donors over the years and one of the questions that they do ask is how much time is required in recovery and I think some of the barriers to success in moving forward is they just couldn't take the time off," said Doucet.

"Right now there are 1,926 people living on dialysis," said Jon Hoffman, sr. director of state policy and advocacy with the American Kidney Fund.

That's just in Rhode Island.

This new living donor law provides for two things.

"The two things this bill does that are so important is provide that thirty days of leave but also make sure that when you come back, even if you need more time that your job is still there," said Hoffman.

He's hoping this incentivizes more people to give this lifesaving gift.

Doucet said if she had to do it all over again, she would.

"She looks beautiful, she feels great. She's a completely different person," said Doucet of her friend Jamieson.

She's hoping those of you able to do so are listening because there's one more thing.

"You go on living knowing that what you did helped another person," said Doucet.

This new law also covers those who become bone marrow donors, allowing them five paid days off.

To clarify, the living donor law only applies to businesses with 50 or more employees and not to public employees.

The American Kidney Fund is hoping that changes in the next year or so.

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