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'Prisoners' organs harvested'
19/04/2006 19:00 - (SA)
London - British transplant scientists on Wednesday accused China of harvesting organs for transplant from executed prisoners.
The British transplantation society, which represents the country's leading transplant surgeons, said mounting evidence suggested prisoners' organs were being removed without their consent or that of their families.
It said the "lamentable practice" was a violation of the prisoners' human rights.
The society said the exact number of transplants performed using organs from executed convicts was unknown, "but the figure is thought to be in the thousands."
Many of the transplants "are known to involve the payment of money," said the group.
Stephen Wigmore, chairperson of the group's ethics committee, said: "A reported close relationship between transplant units and the authorities regulating executions and the availability of organs is unethical.
"The alleged sale of organs derived from executed prisoners for financial gain is a lamentable practice."
Human rights groups have claimed for a long time that many of China's transplant organs come from executed prisoners, who may not have given their permission.
China routinely denies the claims.
Last month, China's health ministry banned the sale of human organs in an apparent attempt to clean up the country's laxly regulated transplant business.
The new rules, which take effect on July 1, also state that donors must give written permission for their organs to be transplanted.
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