Hearvesting

I stayed in Gainesville, Florida over a year when I was with my liver cancer. Shands, as it is a University Hospital, I saw so many different faces. I met doctors from all over the world likes....India, Thai, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Middle East. Some of them are Interns and some of them are Brushing Up (in my language OK!), or updating medical field.

In Clinic, I met a doctor He is from Taiwan. He was concerned about me, coming all the way from Thailand. He gave me a visiting card and said...." We do have a good doctors in Taipei...". I think so as 85% successful rate.

I have heard and read many news about the way Liver Harvesting in China. I know (even with my samll brain ), that "Harvesting" is one of the very important parts of liver transplant....in my language I would say "bad seed, bad plant"! Have a look at the article.


Liver patients warned against China transplants INHUMANE HARVEST: With some organs sliced from executed prisoners in the 20-minute ambulance ride to the crematorium, transplant patients are at risk DPA, Taipei Monday, Aug 16, 2004,

Taiwan doctors have warned liver patients of the dangers of receiving liver transplants in China because the success rate is only 50 percent.The warning was made by two chief surgeons at a symposium held over the weekend on liver disease.

Lee Poh-hsing (李伯皇), from National Taiwan University Hospital, and Cheng Lung-pin (鄭隆賓), from the Chinese Medical University Hospital, told the symposium that about 70 to 80 Taiwanese have received liver transplants in China in recent years. "Since the livers were hastily harvested from executed prisoners and the quality of surgery varies from hospital to hospital, the survival rate of Taiwan recipients is only 50 percent, compared to the 85 percent survival rate in Tai-wan," Lee said. "

We heard that most of the livers were harvested from executed prisoners. From execution to cremation there is only 20 minutes, so the livers were hastily harvested in dimly-lit ambulances," Cheng said. "By the time the livers were transplanted, the livers had been without blood circulation for a long time and their quality was affected," Cheng said.

Cheng has traced 17 patients who received liver transplants in China.The survival rate was 50 percent, compared to the 95 percent survival rate for Taiwan patients who received livers from relatives and the 85 percent survival rate for Taiwan patients who received livers from traffic accident victims.

At National Taiwan University Hospital, 12 liver cancer patients received liver transplants in China and only six have survived. Another six liver disease patients also received liver transplants in China, but Lee did not mention their survival rate.

Some 500 patients are waiting for liver transplants in Taiwan, but there are only about 100 donor livers each year, prompting some patients to travel to China for a transplant.International human rights groups have condemned the underground organ trade in China, especially organs harvested from prisoners even before they have stopped breathing.But Beijing has turned a blind eye to the practice because it brings in foreign currency for Chinese hospitals.

According to the local Chinese-language press, hundreds of Taiwanese go to China every year for organ transplants, mostly for kidneys. Taiwan's health ministry is aware of the situation but has apparently not taken any action to stop it.