Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

China Admits Use of Death-Row Organs

Posted by samzenpus on from the you-won't-be-needing-this-anymore dept.

h.ross.perot writes "Like a page from Larry Niven's Known Space series, here is a real report of criminals' organs being harvested for 'profit.' From the article: 'China is trying to move away from the use of executed prisoners as the major source of organs for transplants. According to the China Daily newspaper, executed prisoners currently provide two-thirds of all transplant organs. The government is now launching a voluntary donation scheme, which it hopes will also curb the illegal trafficking in organs. But analysts say cultural bias against removing organs after death will make a voluntary scheme hard to implement.'"

5 of 309 comments (clear)

  1. A Waste? by Russianspi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think that it would be a waste NOT to use these organs. The prisoners will be executed either way, might as well make them contribute some good to society to offset whatever they were sentenced to death for. There is a possible conflict of interest, though, if the judges start getting paid off to sentence people to death...

    1. Re:A Waste? by Stormwatch · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If it's profitable to kill, more will be killed. Simple like that.

      --
      Circumcision is child abuse.
    2. Re:A Waste? by lena_10326 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If there are judges sentencing innocent kids to jail time for kickbacks, then I don't think it's a stretch to assume it would happen with death row inmates and organs. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/us/13judge.html?_r=2&hp

      --
      Camping on quad since 1996.
    3. Re:A Waste? by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Welcome to human nature.

      Why do you think those "reality shows" and afternoon "talk shows" are so popular? Because they show real life and because they give you a real impression of other people's lives, because people are actually genuinely interested how others are doing? Bullcrap. They're popular because they give people someone to point at and say "Gee, I'm not that good... but I'm still way better than them!". It makes people feel good because they can look down at someone and feel good about themselves because they're not as bad off as someone else. I have no job but at least I have fewer bottles lying around in my living room than that bum there. My son smokes and drinks, but at least he's not a deadbeat like that boy at Super Nanny.

      Aspiring to something bigger would require work. Looking down at someone else is much easier.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Re:Israel does this too by DerekLyons · · Score: 5, Insightful

    [Reliable citation needed]