Biological Colonialism: Bioethicists Urge Science Boycott of China over Organ Killings

Secondhand Smoke | Wesley J. Smtih

Penn bioethicist Art Caplan and I have had some vocal disagreements over the years, but we tend to think very similarly about organ transplant issues. Now Art and four other bioethicists have an opinion column in The Lancet calling for a boycott of Chinese scientists over its barbaric human organ market. From “Time For a Boycott of Chinese Science and Medicine Pertaining to Organ Transplantation:”

Transplant “tourists” find their way to China, frustrated by the long waiting times in their own countries and attracted by the competitive price. It is clear from the numbers provided by China that not all of the organs for Chinese citizens and transplant tourists are provided by voluntary consenting donors. The source of many of these organs is executed prisoners whose consent is either non-existent or ethically invalid and whose demise might be timed for the convenience of the waiting recipient.

Rather than wring our hands, the authors issue a call to action:

Read More: http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2011/10/03/biological-colonialism-bioethicists-urghe-science-boycott-of-china-over-organ-killings/