Posted on 12/05/2003 10:16:32 AM PST by NativeNewYorker
JERUSALEM, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Half of the kidney transplants performed on Israeli citizens in the last four years have been illegal, using organs purchased from donors elsewhere.
Ha'aretz reported Friday some 300 Israelis are estimated to have bought kidneys abroad in illegal organ trade in the last four years. Senior doctors said in some cases, organ traders and mediators negotiated directly with Israeli insurance companies for the illegal payments.
According to the Health Ministry and hospital records, the kidneys came from donors in Israel, Turkey, South America and eastern Europe, while most Israelis had the transplants performed in South Africa.
Speaking at a medical conference, doctors said there is no supervision of the kidney donors, and in some cases, the sold kidneys are transplanted abroad even though they are unsuitable or contain contagious diseases.
The transplants are performed in public and private hospitals overseas, and sometimes even in private homes.
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