"Chinese officials say the prisoners volunteer to donate their organs"
Posted on 09/27/2006 6:00:48 PM PDT by kevin_in_so_cal
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 three weeks.
One official said that the prisoners volunteered to give their organs as a "present to society".
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.
I can't wait for a Walmart connection.
Parts is parts.
Well heck, I can donate a liver. I only need one.
Oh! that king of organ, I was looking for a hamond B3
It's the BBC quoting Amnesty International, so we have to consider the source.
I don't know if I would want a liver from an executed Chinese prisoner who would have likely abused their liver for half of their life.
Who needs "Big Government" telling us we can't buy cheap organs from China? Keep the gubmint out of people's private medical decisions!
Give it to me! So I can drink my buddies under the table.
I was thinking more along the lines for chicken Mcnuggets
Just one more reason I buy nothing from the chicoms and Walmart.
An article that shows evil outside the US or Israel? The BBC's editors are slipping.
It's the BBC quoting Amnesty International, so we have to consider the source."
It's Red China, where they have forced abortions and jail dissidents, so maybe we have to consider the country.
"An article that shows evil outside the US or Israel? The BBC's editors are slipping."
That was my first thought...lol. They must be working on some way to slam Wal Mart and George Bush for not taking on China instead of Iraq.
The truth is probably somewhere in between.
Gotta love those chinese capitalists!
Which government is telling us we can't?
Prisoner donors are much more efficient because the organs can be taken fresh from a still living body and the prisoners who I hear are all typed for it, can be chosen to order. In a Communist system they don't even have to be under a death sentence.
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