Hospital Mining Death Row for Livers, Paper Says
A Chinese hospital is selling liver transplants using the organs of executed prisoners, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Sunday, fueling allegations that China profits from its frequent use of the death penalty.
Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences No. 1 Hospital is charging $38,500 per transplant, the South China Morning Post said. It said more than 40 patients from China, Malaysia and Thailand have received transplants.
A doctor at the hospital in the southern city of Guangzhou was quoted as saying that most organs come from prisoners. The newspaper did not identify the doctor by name.
Beijing consistently denies selling organs and says they are transplanted from executed prisoners only if the condemned or their families consent.
About 80% of the transplant fee pays for anti-rejection drugs, the Post said.
The report said at least five Hong Kong patients received transplants at the hospital, and two have since died.
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