James Redford, a documentarian who drew on his own experience as a transplant recipient to create an institute devoted to educating people about such operations, and who with his father, the actor Robert Redford, founded the Redford Center, which examines environmental issues, died on Oct. 16 at his home in Fairfax, Calif. Mr. Redford had primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that affects the bile ducts and damages the liver. In March 1993 he had a liver transplant, and later that year, after the first liver failed, he underwent a second transplant. The experience led him to found the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness, which sought to increase knowledge about organ donation and other aspects of transplantation, primarily through filmmaking. “I’m amazed at how many think you can’t have a normal funeral after you donate organs, or that if you are a good Christian or follow the Jewish faith you can’t donate organs.”

Source: New York Times October 22, 2020 16:41 UTC