Lest anyone panic, or suffer unnecessary worries, the following
information contradicts the story about transplant organ theft. It is
posted at http://www.urbanlegends.com/ where you may find further
information on the subject. Thanks. pm
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About this FAQ
This FAQ is archived at rtfm.mit.edu and available by gopher or ftp
under usenet/bit.listserv.transplant.
[...]
V. Transplant and organ donation myths
As with any new technology, rumors, myths and misunderstandings
about organ transplantation are wide spread. Frustration
produced by the high cost, the effect of the organ donor shortage,
and the unavailability of transplantation throughout most of
the rest of the world have probably contributed to this. Since rumors
can often be more entertaining than the truth, tabloid
media will often pick up and help spread them, despite the great
harm they cause. Urban legends about organ transplantation
are uniquely dangerous since organ transplantation can not succeed
without the participation and support of the majority of the
population. Bad press, urban legends, even fiction portraying organ
transplantation as somehow evil, all have prevented full
support for donation and led to the death of people who might
otherwise be leading productive and happy lives now.
Another factor fueling the proliferation of myths is the unfortunate
institution in India of payment for unrelated live kidney
donation that preys on the poor in that country. While it may be true
that the Indian medical community is not required to abide
by western standards of ethics, neither is the US medical community
required to interact with them, train their physicians,
publish their research, etc. Its past time that the US medical
community started taking visible responsibility for influencing
transplantation ethics in foreign countries.
Mani, M.K., Renal Transplantation in India. (1992) Transplantation
Proceedings, 24:1828-9.
Kott, Andrea., Organ Procurement Programs in State of Emergency.
Medical World News Feb 1992, v33n2, p. 15-16
[...]
The black market myth:
In all the time that the rumors of a black market, kidnapping and
murder of children, organ-swiping, and other atrocities have
been circulating (since at least 1982), there has never been any
evidence to substantiate any of them.
Any rumor regarding a black market in organs, or organ piracy,
needs to be evaluated in light of the necessity of matching the
organ and recipient in order to avoid rejection by the recipient's
immune system. One can not take any old organ and just put it
anywhere you please. A rather complex system has been set up in
the US to handle matching and distribution. Its unlikely that
any number of evil people in the US or abroad will be able to
duplicate such a system in secret. Adding these simple facts with
the necessity of having many highly skilled medical professionals
involved, along with modern medical facilities and support,
makes it plain why rumors of the involvement of murder, violence
and organized crime in organ procurement can not be given
any credence.
These stories have done great damage to the public's appreciation of
the need for organ donation.
For reference see "Organ Trafficking Myths", a paper by Todd
Leventhal, USIA Senior Policy Officer, and "UNOS paper on
organ theft myths", available through the Yale biomedical gopher
(see above).
The Latin American baby snatching myth
These myths have been traced back to at least 1986 when Pravda in
the Soviet Union carried allegations of children being
taken to the US for adoption and then being murdered for their
organs. There are several variations and they've become quite
popular in countries where the civil unrest they foster tends to favor
one political or military faction. As described above, all of
them require an ignorance of what's involved in transplantation. No
evidence is ever produced, just the assertion that its being
investigated.
Within the last two years some individuals concerned about human
rights violations in Latin-America have become infatuated
with these rumors, apparently because one Central-American
government official or another had told them that they were true,
though again no evidence is produced. This is very unfortunate
since Amnesty International has started to quote some of the
more irresponsible writings on the subject.
Further information is available from Todd Leventhal at the US
Information Agency. E-mail: [log in to unmask] Phone:
(202)619-5673. Fax: (202)205-0655.
They've been following the body parts rumors for seven years.
References and additional information:
Leventhal, THE "BABY PARTS" MYTH: THE ANATOMY OF A
RUMOR. UNOS Update, May 1994 (also available
from Todd Leventhal [log in to unmask] and the Yale biomedical
gopher after 6/1/94)
Pierce, Burdick face accusers in baby parts allegations, UNOS
Update, June 1993 (available at the Yale biomedical gopher)
UNOS Fights 'Baby Parts' Rumor in Geneva. UNOS Update, May
1994
Organ Trafficing perspective from UNOS, UNOS press release
available from UNOS and soon to be posted at the Yale
biomedical gopher site.
Foreigners Attacked in Guatemala. New York Times, 4/5/94, pg. A10.
Holden, Constance. Curbing Soviet Disinformation. Science Nov 4,
1988, v242, p. 665 [...]
http://www.urbanlegends.com/
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