WMA COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON ORGAN DONATION IN PRISONERS

Whereas the WMA Statement on Human Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation stresses the importance of free and informed choice in organ donation and
Whereas the statement explicitly states that prisoners and other individuals in custody are not in a position to give consent freely, and therefore, their organs must not be used for transplantation and
Whereas, prior to 2014, there were reports of Chinese prisoners being executed and their organs procured for donation; and
Whereas the WMA reiterates its position that organ donation be achieved through the free and informed consent of the potential donor; and
Whereas the WMA General Assembly in Copenhagen in 2007 was informed that the Chinese Medical Association (ChMA) stated in a letter by Dr. Wu Mingjang, (then) Vice President and Secretary General of the ChMA that
1. the Chinese Medical Association agrees to the WMA Statement on Human Organ Donation and Transplantation, in which it states that organs of prisoners and other individuals in custody must not be used for transplantation, except for members of their immediate family.