Hot Spots

Activity related to the organ trade around the world

Also see the photographic essay by Nancy Scheper-Hughes

Columbia

• Allegations of Organ Theft
  
  Abbokinase, a widely used clot-dissolving drug, uses materials derived from kidneys taken from deceased newborns in a hospital in Cali, without any evidence of parental consent, informed or otherwise (Wolfe, Sidney. 1999. Letter to Dr. Jane Henney, Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, February 10. www.citizen.org/public_citizen/hrg/WHAT'SNEW/1473) At the Libre de Barranquilla University, a group of dirigentes (including professors) participated in the traffic of cadavers and human organs. This group assassinated at least 50 beggars and homeless people living in the streets of the city, selling them whole and in parts. Some of the cadavers were used by the same university for dissection in classes. ("El carnaval de la muerte," Semana (Bogota), March 10 1992, pp 18-23).