[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19795-19796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10852]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 1998 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 19795]]
Proclamation 7083 of April 17, 1998
National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week,
1998
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On December 1, 1997, 14-year-old Nicole Hadley was
killed when a classmate opened fire inside her high
school in Paducah, Kentucky. When doctors told Gwen and
Chuck Hadley that their daughter had no hope for
recovery, her parents remembered that Nicole believed
strongly in organ donation, and in the midst of their
own intense grief, the Hadleys made the courageous
decision to honor Nicole's wishes and donate her
organs. This decision helped to save the lives of at
least two people and allowed Nicole's spirit of grace
and generosity to live on after her death.
Thousands of families have made the same selfless
decision and have given the gift of life to someone in
need of an organ or tissue transplantation. Today,
approximately 55,000 Americans are on the national
organ transplant waiting list, hoping for a second
chance. Yet, every day, 10 people will die because
organs are not available. These tragic deaths are
unnecessary. Our country has a large number of people
who qualify as organ donors--but many still have not
chosen to become donors.
Last year, to help remedy this situation, Vice
President Gore, with the Department of Health and Human
Services, launched the National Organ and Tissue
Donation Initiative to increase awareness of the urgent
need for increased donation. We are working to ensure
that all Americans know that by completing and carrying
a donor card--and by making their families aware of
their decision to donate--they may give the gift of
life to other Americans or ease their suffering. And
families who have lost their loved ones can gain solace
in knowing that they have been able to bring life and
comfort to others. This week, I encourage all Americans
to honor the memory of Nicole Hadley--and the thousands
of other generous people who have donated their
organs--by learning more about the benefits of becoming
an organ and tissue donor and by filling out a donor
card.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim April 19 through April 25,
1998, as National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness
Week. I urge all health care professionals, educators,
the media, public and private organizations concerned
with organ donation and transplantation, the clergy,
and all Americans to join me in promoting greater
awareness and acceptance of this humanitarian action.
[[Page 19796]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-eight, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-second.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 98-10852
Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
