Human Organ Trafficking

1. Human Organ Trafficking Jessica Neal, Wilmington University

2. What is Human Organ trafficking? Human Organ Trafficking as defined by the United Nations: Experts on organ trafficking established the definition of organ trafficking to mean: the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring, or receipt of living or deceased persons or their organs by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or of the giving to, or the receiving by, a third party of payments or benefits to achieve the transfer of control over the potential donor, for the purpose of exploitation by the removal of organs for transplantation.

3. Statistics for Delaware • 305,482 Delawareans are registers as an Organ Donor. • The population of Delawareans over the age of 18 is 689,585. • In 2006 , 61 Delaware residents received a new organ and 30 families donated organs from loved ones that lost their lives.

4. Statistics for The United States • Every minute of Everyday 11 Americans are added to the list for an Organ Transplant, that is 130 people daily. • 75 Organ transplants are done daily while 19 people die daily waiting for an organ. • November 2008, 60% of living donors were female, while 60% of deceased donors were male. • In November 2010, the National waiting list was made up of 45% white persons, 29% African American persons, 18% Hispanic persons, and 8% Asian persons. • Currently there are about 114,000 people awaiting an organ transplant at this very moment.

5. World Health Organization • According to the WHO, “the international trade in human organs is on the increase fuelled by growing demand as well as unscrupulous traffickers. The rising trend has prompted a serious reappraisal of current legislation, while WHO has called for more protection for the most vulnerable people who might be tempted to sell a kidney for as little as $1000.00.” • The WHO states that, “the human body and its parts cannot be the subject of commercial transactions. Accordingly, giving or receiving payment for organs should be prohibited.”

6. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION • The WHO would like to increase the supply of organs donated from deceased patients, utilize living related donors in national, noncommercial and ethical programs that are governed by legal guidelines and policies. • Frank Delmonico, a Professor at Harvard University and a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Transplantation says it best: that giving the worlds population better medical care will lessen the need for transplanted organs.

7. Coalition for Organ-Failure Solutions • COFS is a not for profit international health and human rights organization with a mission to end organ trafficking and enhance altruistic and deceased organ donation, COFS combines prevention, policy advocacy, and survivor support to combat organ trafficking. COFS envisions a world of ethical solutions for organ failure patients and donors that does not rely upon and exploit the underclass citizens of our world.

8. COFS VIDEO

9. HR 6573 • Introduced to the 112th Congress on October 12, 2012, has not been voted upon as of this date. • The bill is called Trafficking in Organs Victim Protection Act. This is the second time this bill has been placed for review the last time was September 2010. • The bill shows evidence that the WHO collected stating that 10% of all organs transplanted worldwide are illegally obtained from impoverished persons, prisoners, or refugees.

10. HR 6573 • Many international clinics have been founded and investigated by the WHO and are guilty of harvesting organs for profit, while providing substandard care for those that the organs were harvested from. • Imbedded in the legislation is a report called “Bloody Harvest” which explains that a Chinese hospital was profiting from it organ selling practices and supporting a part of its existing hospital from the funds.

11. HR 6573 • Pakistan has been identified as popular destination for Transplant Tourism. • Transplant Tourism as defined by the Free Dictionary is, “ the practice of travelling to another country for organ transplantation. While transplant tourism is typically cheaper, transplant tourist may be subject to sub-standard care, poor organ matching, unhealthy donors, and post transplant infection, prompting some institutions in the US to refuse to treat the tourists who return needing post operative care or even a new organ, should their tourist organ fail.”

12. HR 6573 • The Congress states within the legislation that the forcing of a person for the purpose of removing an organ for profit is not within the realm of what is ethical based on the laws of the United States. Harvesting organs from children that are deemed brain dead is a violation of the human rights of a child and is in direct conflict with accepted international medical and ethical standards as presented by the WHO.

13. HR 6573 • This bill seeks to end Human Organ Trafficking that exploits the poor and vulnerable people of the world. • The bill seeks to combat criminal trade in human organs • The bill seeks to promote dignity and security of human life in accordance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

14. Proposal • Iran as a model for the United States. • In 1988 Iran legalized living non relative donation on kidneys and established a transplant network for all citizens. A government contractor arranges the contact between the donor and the recipient or the organ. The government regulates and funds the process and compensates the donor for their services. The government pays for the donors medical care for life and often a financial gift is made to the donor. Those who are unable to pay are taken care of by a charity.

15. Proposal • A network similar to the one operating in Iran may be a model for the United States to build upon. The shortage of organs and the amount of money that would be saved from therapies provided to a person on a waiting list could eventually make this system profitable for everyone involved. • The United States would need the support of its citizens and their willingness to help their fellow man if they are called upon.

16. Opposition to Iran AS A MODEL • Iran has a system that works for them within their borders. The United States cannot possibly model the legalization of organ sales because it goes against the rights and privileges our Founding Fathers sacrificed so much for. • There is not a sufficient system to provide free health care services for life for every person who made an organ donation. Health care for a “healthy” person is expensive, for a person at risk the amount can double to triple in services.

17. Opposition to iran as a model • The legalization of organ sales could potentially create a larger gap between the classes within this country. The rich would be able to afford to obtain organs from the poor. The rich would not donate organs simply because they would not have to. Eventually, the supply of down trodden, impoverished, and imprisoned individuals would run dry and then what population would be targeted as suitable donors?

18. resources to stop human organ trafficking • My proposal would ignite a global shakedown of potential organ trafficking rings in an attempt to end this suffrage. The manpower, intelligence information, weapons, medical supplies, and transportation methods would be astronomical.

19. Proposed staffing and budgeting • Staffing: • 20 members of an elite team compromised of former military member, police officers, special operatives of federal agencies with 5 years service or more. • The members will be part of a team that works to end savagery and promotes human rights. • Staff Member salaries will include hazardous duty pay and all travel expenses included. Individual salaries are as follows: • Team Leader $100,000.00 annual • Team Sergeants (3) $65,000.00 annual • Team Members (16) $50,00.00

20. Proposed Program • An elite taskforce has been mobilized to utilize intelligence gathered regarding the operation of Human Organ Trafficking Rings and close down the operations that are being run internationally. The taskforce will work with sources to identify persons and or organizations and bring them to justice. The taskforce will work in conjunction with the World Health Organization and the United Nations to bring criminal organ traffickers to the attention of the law within their home countries. The taskforce will work with the Geneva Conventions code and will always try to maintain their presence in an area in a peaceful manner. The team can operate will all members of the team or a select few depending upon the intelligence gather and manpower required.

21. Budgeting • Staffing Salaries Annual • $975,000.00 • Transportation • Utilizing United States Air Force transportation will fall under military operations budget supplied by the US Government. • Medical Supplies • Provided by the WHO to assist those who are injured and in need of medical attention when active clinics are closed. • Weapons • The weapons will be purchased from military contractors with whom a Government contract is open and active. Annual Budget for weapons and supplies to maintain weapons : $200,000. • Intelligence Information, most intelligence will be gathers from Government sources and communicated from Government sources. A budget of $300,000.00 will be allotted for information purchases made onsite. Funds can also be utilized for interpreters and guides in foreign lands.

22. Support • In order to operate a Taskforce that will work tirelessly to end Human Organ Trafficking a huge support would be needed in Washington and the United Nations. The taskforce could assist the WHO and the UN in making their vision a reality, ending this unacceptable vile act. • A large monetary support network would have to be put into place and military resources would need to be shared with this small group to ensure success. This taskforce can be a reality, it may already be in place without the knowledge of the American people.