PBS Watch - Has China really stopped obtaining organs from executed prisoners?

Has China really stopped obtaining organs from executed prisoners?

For decades, China obtained human organs such as kidneys and livers from executed prisoners, a practice condemned by human rights activists and medical ethicists. China says they no longer do this and have built a new system for organ transplants that now relies on volunteers, not prisoners. Hari Sreenivasan reports.

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One doctor’s war against global organ trafficking
BY Ryan Connelly Holmes and Dan Sagalyn 
May 29, 2017 at 5:18 PM EDT
In late 2016, Dr. Francis Delmonico saw an unknown number coming up on his phone. The Vatican was calling.

“One minute please for the foreign minister,” said the voice on the other end of the line.
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But there was a hitch: A key invitee to the forum was Dr. Jiefu Huang, who has led reform of China’s organ donation practices. Critics, including some in the Vatican, wanted at the summit no representatives of China, which for years sold and transplanted organs from executed prisoners.
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Egypt Targets Spain, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands and the UK hepatitis C patients for medical tourism

Egypt targets hepatitis C patients for medical tourism

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UK patients who have liver transplants abroad get poorer management

UK patients who have liver transplants abroad get poorer management      

News Type: Clinical News

     

A small number of UK citizens are undergoing liver transplants abroad but their management is of a lower standard than in the UK.

These were the conclusions of researchers at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital, who sent questionnaires to all seven UK liver transplant units enquiring about liver patients receiving transplant abroad. Six of the seven centres responded.

A total of 12 patients were identified as having undergone liver transplantation overseas. The top destinations were India, China and Egypt.

Four units responded to questions regarding pre-transplant screening. One unit reported HBV and HCV screening not taking place. Four units responded to questions regarding post-transplant antimicrobial therapy. This revealed examples of patients inappropriately not receiving valganciclovir, co-trimoxazole, anti-fungal treatment and HBV immunoglobulins.

The researchers add that information transfer between overseas and UK based transplant teams is poor.

Reference

A questionnaire based assessment of numbers, motivation and medical care of UK patients undergoing liver transplant abroad. Winter BK, Odedra A, Green S. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2016 Sep 14 [Epub ahead of print]

Source - https://www.basl.org.uk/index.cfm/news/list/cid/8/nid/2

Abstract

A questionnaire based assessment of numbers, motivation and medical care of UK patients undergoing liver transplant abroad.

Travel Med Infect Dis. 2016 Sep 14. pii: S1477-8939(16)30122-3. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.09.004. [Epub ahead of print]

A questionnaire based assessment of numbers, motivation and medical care of UK patients undergoing liver transplant abroad.
Kerr Winter B1, Odedra A2, Green S2.

1Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, S10 2JF, England, UK. Electronic address: Ben.kerrwinter@gmail.com.
2Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, S10 2JF, England, UK.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Medical tourism, where patients travel abroad intentionally to access medical treatment, is a growing trend. Some of these patients travel to undergo organ transplantation. This study aims to quantify the number of UK patients who undergo liver transplantation abroad, assessing their motivations and management.

METHODS:
Questionnaires were sent to all seven UK liver transplant units enquiring about liver patients receiving transplant abroad. Included were questions on destination, motivation, and pre and post-transplant care.

RESULTS:
Responses were received from six of the seven transplant centres (86%). A total of 12 patients were identified as having undergone liver transplantation overseas. The top destinations were India, China and Egypt. Four units responded to questions regarding pre-transplant screening. One unit reported Hepatitis B and C screening not taking place. Four units responded to questions regarding post-transplant antimicrobial therapy. This revealed examples of patients inappropriately not receiving valganciclovir, co-trimoxazole, anti-fungal treatment and Hepatitis B immunoglobulins.

CONCLUSIONS:
UK patients are undergoing liver transplant abroad, albeit in small numbers. Pre and post-transplant management of these patients is of a lower standard than that provided to those undergoing transplantation in the UK. Information transfer between overseas and UK based transplant teams is poor.

Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

KEYWORDS:

Hepatology; Infectious diseases; Medical tourism; Transplantation
PMID: 27640117 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.09.004