China Organ Harvesting

Involuntary organ donation is officially illegal in China. However, there is debate as to whether the Chinese Government enforces these laws. China's practice of acquiring organs from executed criminals, officially revealed in 2005, combined with the country's exceptionally high rate of execution, has raised concerns with many human rights groups. Allegations have also been made that organs are harvested from Falun Gong prisoners against their will. These claims, initially made by the pro-Falun Gong newspaper The Epoch Times, were confirmed by the Canadian State Department in 2007. Under the pressure of international protests, the Chinese government declared a moratorium on commercial organ harvesting from condemned prisoners.

Fast Facts

1. 1984: Involuntary organ donation outlawed
2. The same legal statement legalized organ donations from condemned criminals
3. 2001: Doctor in exile reveals evidence he removed organs from condemned criminals for transplant market
4. 2005: China's Deputy Health Minister admits harvesting of organs from prisoners is widespread
5. 2006: Independent investigations reveal organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners
6. 2007: The China Medical Associate agrees to impose a moratorium on the organ harvesting of condemned criminals

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