Beijing
China has issued new rules governing the harvesting and allocation of human organs for transplant. Under the new system, organs may not be sold, and donors must give written permission for their bodies to be used. But critics said the rules don’t go far enough. Chen Zhonghua, a top surgeon, said the reforms do not address the biggest problem plaguing China’s donation program—that most available organs are taken from executed prisoners and disappear in corrupt dealings between police and hospitals. China faces a chronic organ shortage, largely because of a cultural taboo against cutting up bodies.
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