As Bush pushes "Medical Outsourcing" to India, organleggers run rampant

[Ian David]

CHENNAI, India -- Police raids here last month that led to the arrests of at least three alleged dealers in human kidneys have thrown a spotlight on lapses by local medical regulators and recharged the global debate over legalized organ sales.

More than 500 people across the state of Tamil Nadu say they've sold their kidneys to organ brokers, in violation of a ban enacted in 1994. Since then, however, the agency responsible for enforcing the ban has frequently turned a blind eye.

"We do everything in accordance with the letter of the law on paper, but we know that almost all of the documents we see are false," said a member of Tamil Nadu's Transplant Authorization Committee, who spoke to Wired News on condition of anonymity. "It is an open secret. It is either, approve a transplant with forged documents, or a patient is going to die."

Humanitarian arguments excusing black-market organ sales may seem a stretch given the stark danger of exploitation that led to the ban in the first place. Given the failure of India's official system, however, some medical policy experts say some form of legalization may be the best solution.

Under India's 1994 legislation, a state-appointed ethics committee must approve all transplants. The committee must interview all prospective donors before approving each transplant. On average the committee hears 20 requests a week and approves 15. The anonymous committee member said brokers routinely produce forged documents so that the transaction takes on the appearance of legality.

More:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/medtech/0,72675-0.html

[NYC]

1. Do rich people sell kidneys?

Or is it just the poor people?

...More than 500 people across the state of Tamil Nadu say they've sold their kidneys to organ brokers...

I wonder what happens when your one remaining kidney goes bad.

Capitalism at its finest.