Philippines a hotbed of illegal organ harvesting
I’ve heard rumors of this from my friends who warned me to be careful when traveling to the Philippines. I read it tonight from Girlie Linao at India eNews, and it is depressing.
In recent years, the Philippines has become a global source of organs such as kidneys. Illegal and/or unhealthy practices of organ harvesting is on the rise. Most donors come from the poor, who give up a kidney for a few thousand dollars of “gratuity package” and livelihood assistance. It’s difficult to blame someone whose only desire is to give his children a better future. But the vulnerable are precisely who illegals brokers are looking for.
I’ve even been told of fatal abductions and the victims found to missing one or several organs. Organ transplants to foreign recipients have also risen in the past years to as much as 50% of transplants, 40% more than allowed by law.
The department of health now bans all organ transplants to foreigners, but this would not stop the black market on illegal organ sales. Now that the ball is rolling, I don’t know what would.
Tags: filipina soul, illegal organ trade, medical news, news, organ harvesting, philippine cultureRelated Stories
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