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China unveils transplant regulation banning sale of organs+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)BEIJING, March 27_(Kyodo) _ China unveiled Monday its first detailed regulation on human organ transplants, which bans the sale of organs and introduces a set of medical standards on facilities that perform transplants. The regulation consisting of 47 articles will come into effect July 1, according to an announcement posted on the Health Ministry's website. China has carried out liver transplants since the 1970s, and 3,500 operations are being conducted annually in more than 500 hospitals in the country, according to state-run media reports. Chinese medical facilities have also performed numerous kidney transplants. Among those who go under the knife are foreigners, including Japanese. The announcement of the regulation also comes at a time when China is under international criticism for using organs from executed prisoners. Beijing maintains organs from such people can be used if papers showing consent by the prisoners exist, or if their family members agree. The new regulation says organs cannot be sold or bought, and enforces facilities that perform the operations to, for example, acquire appropriate equipment and to hold an ethics committee meeting for each case. The facilities must also receive from organ donors their consent in paper, according to the regulation. |