CBS Highlights Organ Donation With New Show 'Three Rivers'

CBS Highlights Organ Donation With New Show 'Three Rivers'

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CBS's new drama "Three Rivers," will premiere on Sunday, October 4th at 9:00 EDT. The show is set in a Pittsburgh transplant hospital and will explore the emotionally complex world of organ donors, recipients and surgeons on a weekly basis. The show's title highlights the city's three rivers in reference to the three estates (donor hospitals, organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and transplant facilities) involved in making donation and transplantation possible. Each episode is shot from the viewpoint of donation and transplant professionals, donors and recipients who converge at the conclusion of each show.

The drama was created by Carol Barbee, who stated in a press conference on July 31st, "We're dropping you into the world of the people involved and seeing what's at stake in their world and watching them get a resolution." The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) applauds the extensive research conducted by CBS in consultation with experts in the donation and transplantation community to make this show as realistic as possible. The fact that the network reached out to organizations like Donate Life America and Donate Life Hollywood, and used the information provided, demonstrates CBS's commitment to accuracy.

Although most of "Three Rivers" is filmed from a transplant center's perspective, AOPO recognizes the staff of organ procurement organizations who work so diligently to facilitate the gift of life every day in the United States. Organ procurement organizations employ skilled workers who focus on: working with hospitals to coordinate the organ and tissue donation process, educating people of all faiths and cultures about donation; fostering donor designation; advocating for donor families; and, conducting aftercare initiatives and community services. Through these activities, member OPOs are committed to enhancing the quality, effectiveness and integrity of the donation process.

AOPO works with other organizations throughout the organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation field to increase donation in order to save and heal lives through transplantation, research, education, and therapy. AOPO commends CBS in the airing of "Three Rivers" to help publicize organ and tissue donation and transplantation issues. There are currently more than 83 million people registered to be organ and tissues donors in the U.S. AOPO works continuously with its sister organizations and member OPOs to increase public trust in both communities and organizations who manage donation by encouraging more Americans to say 'yes' to donation. For more information about "Three Rivers," or becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit DonateLife.net.

About AOPO

AOPO is a non-profit, national organization representing all 58 federally designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs). The association represents and serves these OPOs through advocacy, support and by developing activities that will maximize the availability of organs and tissues and enhance the quality, effectiveness and integrity of the donation process.

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Source: Association of Organ Procurement Organizations

CONTACT: Liz Hackett, Public Affairs and Policy Manager, Association of
Organ Procurement Organizations, +1-703-556-4242, ext.205

Web Site: http://www.donatelife.net/

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Profile: International Entertainment