CHINA> National
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CHINA> National
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Four in five die in waiting for organ donation
By Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-17 09:56 A poll on Sohu.com, a popular Chinese news portal, showed that 70 percent of its 500 respondents would like to donate their organs. However, more than 80 percent agreed China's transplant industry was expensive and not transparent enough. Of the 30 percent who ruled out donation, more than half said the reason behind their decision was a fear their organs would be used in an "unfair or improper manner". "Being a third party, the Red Cross Society of China is the best organization to operate an organ donation system as they will ensure fair practice," explained Jiang Yiman, the society's deputy executive director.
The society is now finding and registering donors on a national database, is setting up a fund offering financial aid to poor survived families of the donors, and is making sure organs are allocated in line with set principles, he said, adding: "The Red Cross will bring in plenty of checks to prevent abuse." Zhai Xiaomei, a bioethicist at the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, said incentives like thank you letters and financial assistance for a donor's surviving family could also help boost the voluntary spirit. In Spain, the nation with the highest post-mortem donation rate at 36 per every 1 million people, transplant coordinators - specially trained doctors and nurses based in ICUs - have been key assets. It is a lesson that must be learned in China, where knowledge among medical professionals and Red Cross workers about organ donation remains scant, said Chen Zhonghua. Training for staff like Chen Min, therefore, will be vital if the system being piloted in 10 provinces and municipalities, including Shanghai, Fujian, Liaoning and Jiangxi, is to expanded nationwide in 2011. "Details like how to clearly define the responsibilities for all parties, including the Red Cross and health administration, are still under discussion," said Jiang. "The process took 20 years in the US." Many experts say that, with the burgeoning system still facing a long road ahead, China could remain a global exception in relying mainly on death row prisoners for organs. Under government regulations issued in 1984, prisoners to be executed must give written consent before their organs can be used. However, due to the high demand for transplants, some hospitals, prisons and justice departments have flouted the law, admitted Huang.
The society has also called for the prisoners' surviving family to be compensated. "Following international practice, China will eventually abolish the death penalty," said Huang. "But without it, China's major source for organs would disappear. The only solution is a public post-death donation system." Meanwhile, the central government would continue to crack down on all kinds of organ trafficking, including transplant tourism and the illegal trade of organs from living donors, the vice-minister added. Chen Zhonghua said around 35 percent of transplants in China involve organs provided by living donors and warned: "As long as we rely on living donors, organ trafficking will be almost impossible to eradicate." The nation's first transplant regulation, which banned illegal trade, was announced in 2007. However, Chen said the law fails to cover the procurement and allocation of organs. China's efforts to establish a new donation network have won plaudits from the international health community, including the WHO, which hailed the country's "progress towards the global mainstream". In August last year, Huang was made a member of the Transplant Society at its 22nd international congress in Sydney, Australia, and became the first Chinese given a top honor when he was presented with the International Award in recognition of the nation's work to improve organ transplantation practices. "It was a goodwill message to show we are on the right track and to encourage us further," Huang told China Daily. "The nation is now able to join the global family in transplantation and make its voice heard. We will play an increasingly important role in the global community."
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