China and the organ trade

Do we know what is really going on?

In 2011, China transplanted more organs than any other country except the United States. The source of those donated organs is a worldwide concern. A few hundred of the 10 000–12 000 organs came from intensive care units as donations after cardiac death; brain death is not legally recognised in China. An unknown number were sourced from living donors. The use of executed prisoners’ organs has been acknowledged by government officials, but despite efforts to change this, executed prisoners still comprise most organ donors.1 The Falun Gong movement and its supporters claim that they are targeted as organ donors through execution.2