Chinese organ sales 'thriving'
By Aussiegirl
You're not going to see this in the gauzy, feel-good commercials that are starting to run about China in the lead-up to the next Olympics. The propaganda that's going to be pouring out of there ahead of the games is going to be nauseating. Think Nazi Germany prior to the 1936 games and Leni Riefenstahl's propaganda movies.
Chinese organ sales 'thriving' | NEWS.com.au
SALES of human organs taken from executed prisoners, targeted at foreigners who need transplants, are thriving in China, the BBC reported today.
The broadcaster, which also published a related article on its website, said one hospital claimed they could provide a liver for £50,000 ($126,326), with the chief surgeon at the hospital confirming that the donor could be an executed prisoner.
The country's health ministry did not deny the report, but said it was reviewing the system and the regulations surrounding it.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry, however, said in March that it "is a complete fabrication ... to say that China forcibly takes organs from people given the death penalty for the purpose of transplanting them".
The foreign ministry did admit at the time that organs from prisoners were used, but insisted that it was only in a "very few cases".
China executes more prisoners than any other country in the world - in 2005, at least 1770 people were executed, although true figures may be much higher according to a report by London-based human rights group Amnesty International.
posted by Aussiegirl @ 3:36 PM
3 Comments:
There is some evidence that China, or at any rate corrupt Chinese officials, may be executing (Falun Gong) prisoners in order to sell their organs, rather than just using the organs of people who have been executed for other reasons:
Epoch Times article
Kilgour-Matas Report (PDF format)
("A new form of evil" -- Matas)
Thanks for the link, Mr. Spog. This is truly a nightmarish situation.
Um, the BBC report made no mention of Falun Gong's live organ harvesting allegation, which has been debunked by US State Dept. investigation:
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=April&x=20060416141157uhyggep0.5443231&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
I would also like to point out the fact “ability to pay” is a compelling factor in our own organ transplant industry, no less so than China. In US the uninsured are left out of the organ wait list, while the rich go on wait list and receive organs in days or weeks, too.
It is refered to as “wallet biopsy”. 2004 clinical data from ustransplant.org shows thousands of patients in US (top 10% of wait list) averaged a 10 day wait period for liver transplant.
Does that mean we too are selling organs?
As to the BBC reporter’s cliam it’s not possible for the condemned in China to consent to donation, I would like to point out that China is not the only country that allows the death row inmate to donate organ. In US it is allowed on a case-by-case basis.
For reference, here’s a report I found in the Chinese media, about a guy who turned himself in for killing his wife’s lover. Before he was to pay with his life, he decided to donate his organ as last act of redemption, and willed the organ donation compensation fund paid by the state to the victim’s family. In his interview he indicated the reason he called for press is to help bring awareness to organ donation in China:
http://news.sina.com.cn/s/p/2006-03-20/12299394605.shtml
Many such cases exists in China:
http://www.baidu.com/s?ie=gb2312&bs=%CB%C0%C7%F4+%BE%E8+%C6%F7%B9%D9&sr=&z=&cl=3&f=8&wd=%CB%C0%C7%F4+%BE%E8+%C6%F7%B9%D9+%C2%C9%CA%A6&ct=0
Some people would simply disregard Chinese media’s reporting about themselves, insisting on what they know about China, like Buddhist culture and people’s desire to die “whole” (probably learned from the movie “The Last Emperor”.)
It probably is still true to some degree, but folks forget most Chinese are not criminals. Does one really believe “wholeness” applies to criminals in Buddhism? Above article demonstrates a common rationale for the condemned to consent to organ donation - the Buddhist desire for redemption.
Chinese culture and Buddhist religious foundation makes organ donation difficult to promote. However the condemned often seek redemption and last act of contribution to family and society, under the same cultural and religious foundation.
Yes, the Chinese government’s organ donation compensation fund seems to be direct at this population, but its aim is to promote organ donation by the population at large.
You may find faults in it, as there do exist isolated cases of abuse contrary to the law stated. But who are we to deny their reality, and self-righteously accuse them with our western sensitivity?
I believe it is fair to say this issue is not only debatable, the Chinese are debating it - as the above search engine results show a range of opinions.
To me this really demonstrates that China’s problems isn’t all that black and white. China too have their dilemmas and choices, and their own history to evaluate (and overcome).
In contrast, to condemn China with emotionally satisfying conclusion only serves ones ego, I submit.
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