Transplant Tourism & Trading

The need for human organs, tissues and cells for transplantation grows increasingly each day. With demand far outweighing supply, an increasing number of patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses are turning to the black market, when procuring what they need legally fails them.

Shedding some disturbing light on this unethical trade is Professor Francis Delmonico from the United States, the president-elect of the Organ Procurement & Transplant Network/ United Network for Organ Sharing, the Director of Medical Affairs and Chair of the Ethics Committee for the Transplant Society, and Medical Advisor for the World Health Organisation (WHO) on transplantation, and also Datuk Dr. Harjit Singh, President of the Malaysian Society of Transplantation and the National Advisor for General Surgical Services for the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Together, they explain the social rammifications of this trade, the very high risks and dangers involved with going through these procedures and how government accountability is a must in eradicating transplant tourism and trading.