Post by Anja Nieser on Oct 1, 2006 6:12:03 GMT -5
Organ sales 'thriving' in China
The sale of organs taken from executed prisoners appears to be thriving in
China, an undercover investigation by the BBC has found.
Organs from death row inmates are sold to foreigners who need transplants.
One hospital said it could provide a liver at a cost of 50,000 ($94,400),
with the chief surgeon confirming an executed prisoner could be the donor.
China's health ministry did not deny the practice, but said it was
reviewing the system and regulations.
'Present to society'
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes visited No 1 Central Hospital in Tianjin,
ostensibly seeking a liver for his sick father.
Officials there told him that a matching liver could be available in 3
weeks.
One official said that the prisoners volunteered to give their organs as a
"present to society".
"It is a complete fabrication... to say that China forcibly takes organs
from the people given the death penalty for the purpose of transplanting
themQin Gang----Foreign ministry spokesman, 28 March 2006
He said there was currently an organ surplus because of an increase in
executions ahead of the 1 October National Day.
China executes more prisoners than any other country in the world. In
2005, at least 1,770 people were executed, although true figures were
believed to be much higher, a report by human rights group Amnesty
International said.
In March, China's foreign ministry admitted that organs from prisoners
were used, but said that it was only in "a very few cases".
Spokesman Qin Gang said that the organs were not taken forcibly, but only
with the express permission of the convict.
But whether prisoners really are free to make up their own minds on organ
donation just before they are executed is not at all clear, our
correspondent says.
In April 2006, top British transplant surgeons condemned the practice as
unacceptable and a breach of human rights.
But the No 1 Central Hospital carried out 600 liver transplants last year,
our correspondent says, and the organ transplant industry has become big
business.
(source: BBC News)
The sale of organs taken from executed prisoners appears to be thriving in
China, an undercover investigation by the BBC has found.
Organs from death row inmates are sold to foreigners who need transplants.
One hospital said it could provide a liver at a cost of 50,000 ($94,400),
with the chief surgeon confirming an executed prisoner could be the donor.
China's health ministry did not deny the practice, but said it was
reviewing the system and regulations.
'Present to society'
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes visited No 1 Central Hospital in Tianjin,
ostensibly seeking a liver for his sick father.
Officials there told him that a matching liver could be available in 3
weeks.
One official said that the prisoners volunteered to give their organs as a
"present to society".
"It is a complete fabrication... to say that China forcibly takes organs
from the people given the death penalty for the purpose of transplanting
themQin Gang----Foreign ministry spokesman, 28 March 2006
He said there was currently an organ surplus because of an increase in
executions ahead of the 1 October National Day.
China executes more prisoners than any other country in the world. In
2005, at least 1,770 people were executed, although true figures were
believed to be much higher, a report by human rights group Amnesty
International said.
In March, China's foreign ministry admitted that organs from prisoners
were used, but said that it was only in "a very few cases".
Spokesman Qin Gang said that the organs were not taken forcibly, but only
with the express permission of the convict.
But whether prisoners really are free to make up their own minds on organ
donation just before they are executed is not at all clear, our
correspondent says.
In April 2006, top British transplant surgeons condemned the practice as
unacceptable and a breach of human rights.
But the No 1 Central Hospital carried out 600 liver transplants last year,
our correspondent says, and the organ transplant industry has become big
business.
(source: BBC News)