In an effort to convince the international medical community and the Pope that it has stopped executing prisoners as organ donors, China sent a delegate to a Vatican conference, USNews.com reported.
“From January 1, 2015, organ donation from voluntary civilian organ donors have become the only legitimate source of organ transplantations,” said Dr. Huang Jefu, China’s former vice minister of health, in an interview at China’s embassy to Italy recently. “That is the whole story.”
However, Dr. Huang admitted completely reforming China’s organ transplant program will take some time.
He insisted, however, that there has already been slow but steady progress to outlaw the practice of executing prisoners as organ donors.
Dr. Huang has been chosen by Beijing to represent China at the Vatican conference held Feb. 7. He will deliver a speech addressing China’s organ transplant program reforms and progress amid complaints from human rights groups regarding the controversial practice.
In response, the Vatican defended its decision to invite China to the conference. It is also reported that Pope Francis aims to use the event as an avenue to improve ties with Beijing and, in the process, bring China’s estimated 12 million Catholics in the fold.
“Without transparency, verification of all alleged reforms is impossible,” argued Dr. Torsten Trey, who works as the executive director of Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting. The organization recently called on the Vatican to make China provide legitimate evidence to prove China’s supposed reforms.
There are many more who doubts China’s commitment in phasing out forced organ harvesting in the country. By its own records, China has the lowest rates of organ donation in the world, but without independent scrutiny, international human rights advocates and critics have a hard time believing China’s word.
Dr. Huang insists that China is right on track, with numbers of voluntary organ donors having increased by 50 percent from 2015 to 2016. And as progress is slow and obstacles are present, China needs the world’s help.
“That’s why we have come to the Vatican. We have to learn as well as to tell what is happening in China,” Dr. Huang said.