The head of the nursing program at a college in British Columbia is urging for increased awareness about the issue of state-sponsored forced organ harvesting in China and believes it is a moral obligation to do so. Tony Chacon, who leads the Nephrology Nursing Specialty Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), first became aware of the issue when patients who had been waiting for a donor organ would travel overseas and return with a transplanted organ.
Chacon spoke about this topic during the 2023 Congress of the International Nurses Council (INC) held in Montreal, Quebec. The event, held from July 1 to July 5, was attended by professional nurses and was organized by the INC and the Canadian Nurses Association. Chacon emphasized that patients who traveled abroad for organ transplants often went to China or India. In India, the organs are typically sourced from impoverished individuals who sell their organs, while in China, organs are often obtained from prisoners.
International human rights organizations have conducted investigations that have raised concerns about China specifically targeting prisoners of conscience and members of religious or ethnic minority groups. Chacon revealed that some of his friends, who were former citizens of China, were reluctant to discuss the issue out of fear of persecution.
Forced organ harvesting in China goes back to 1984 when a law was enacted to allow the practice, according to Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), an international organization comprising doctors and medical professionals dedicated to eradicating this illegal and unethical practice. Public awareness of this issue grew after Dr. Wang Guoqi from China’s General Hospital of Armed Police of Tianjin testified at the U.S. Congress in 2001, providing firsthand accounts of organ extractions carried out on execution grounds.
In 2006, a report co-authored by Canadian MP David Kilgour and human rights lawyer David Matas confirmed that Falun Gong adherents were among the primary victims of state-sanctioned organ harvesting in China. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice rooted in Buddhist traditions. The Chinese Communist Party has been persecuting Falun Gong adherents since July 1999.
Deborah Collins, the director of nursing affairs for Nurses Against Forced Organ Harvesting, a division of DAFOH, reaffirmed the findings of these investigations. She stated that Falun Gong adherents are currently the main victims of forced organ harvesting. Collins emphasized the importance of advocating for medical ethics, nursing ethics, and human rights, and she urged the 30 million nurses worldwide to be aware of this issue.
To combat forced organ harvesting and trafficking abroad, Canada passed legislation in December 2022. The new law makes it a criminal offense for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to travel abroad to receive organs obtained without informed consent. Canada joined other countries such as the UK, Italy, Israel, Belgium, Norway, Spain, South Korea, and Taiwan in enacting legislation to address forced organ harvesting, organ tourism, and organ trafficking.
It is crucial to increase awareness about the issue of forced organ harvesting in China and to take a stand against this inhumane practice. By passing legislation and advocating for medical and nursing ethics, countries like Canada are taking important steps towards combating forced organ harvesting and helping to protect the rights and well-being of individuals affected by these practices.
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