Organ Trafficking Research Articles

Criminal legal model of criminalization of illegal actions in relation to organs and (or) tissues

The work examines some features of criminal liability for actions in relation to human organs and (or) tissues. The author noted that in the context of the need to maintain the “purity” of the qualification of a criminal offense, the need for the timely and correct establishment of a criminal law prohibition in domestic law, there is no stable model for the criminalization of illegal actions in relation to human organs and (or) tissues. In connection with this, the object of study is the social relations that arise in connection with the commission of crimes against human organs and tissues. The subject of the research is Russian modern criminal legislation, foreign criminal legislation, scientific works reflecting the problems raised in the work. Particular attention is paid to the criminal legislation of neighboring countries, since it is there that there are provisions that are interesting from the perspective of the research topic. As a result of the review, the author states that at present there is an urgent need to legislate special rules establishing criminal liability for illegal actions in relation to human organs and tissues. The analysis showed that the current criminal law does not have a stable system for the group of criminal offenses under consideration. Supporting the opinions of most experts in the field of criminal law, the author considers the criminalization of illegal trade in human organs, tissues and cells justified. In addition, the analysis made it possible to develop an abstract criminal law model for the criminalization of illegal actions in relation to organs and (or) tissues, which includes two groups of criminal offenses: crimes related to the manipulation of human organs and tissues; trade in human organs and tissues. At the end of the work, the design of the named model is proposed.

Donation after Brain Death and Circulatory Death in Turkey: Current Status.

Tissue and organ transplantation is the best treatment option for end-stage organ failure. However, organ shortage still remains to be the greatest challenge facing the field of organ transplantation. Millions of people die and are buried with healthy organs, which could save the lives of many patients who continue to wait on transplant lists. Countries must aim to work towards a system of matching organs as much as possible with the deceased donation to meet the growing demand for organs. This action will not only result in the reduction of organ trafficking activities but shall also make an enormous difference to those patients awaiting transplants where living organ donors are not an option. Donation after circulator death (DCD) has gained much attention over the last decade as one of the accepted practices in order to expand the donor pool. DCD donation takes place after declaration of death using cardio-respiratory criteria in contrast to donation after brain death (DBD) where neurological criteria are used. Although DCD remains a focus of interest and contributes to donor numbers in many countries, it also poses many challenges medically, ethically and legally.

The Crime of Trafficking in Human Organs through the Information System: Comparative study

Crimes no longer occur in their simple traditional form, as the development of human societies contributed to the development of crime and the creation of crimes that were not known before, and among these crimes is the crime of trafficking in human organs through the information system, which is one of the crimes that aided technical progress in the field of communications, information technology and the field of modern medicine to spread it; Organized criminal gangs took advantage of the facilities resulting from the development of information and communication technology to trade in human organs, which contributed to the creation of an electronic black market for human organs mafia gangs. The importance of this study stems from the fact that it is different from traditional crimes and is one of the issues emanating from technological progress and the development of organized crime. The study aims to clarify the provisions of the crime of trafficking in human organs through the information system, according to the comparative approach between the Saudi system and the UAE law. The results of the study showed that the Saudi regulator did not explicitly stipulate human organ trafficking in the cybercrime system, but was implicitly included as a form of criminal behavior for the crime of human trafficking in the Saudi human trafficking crime system, unlike the UAE law, which stipulates organ trafficking alongside human trafficking. According to the Saudi system, this crime is considered electronic if it occurs through the information network or a computer. In light of its results, the study concluded the following recommendations: 1. The Saudi cybercrime system explicitly provides for the criminalization of electronic trafficking in human organs as one of the forms of cybercrime, similar to its counterpart in UAE law. 2. Community awareness of the seriousness of this crime, the speed with which it is being investigated via the Internet, the ease with which offenders attract individuals, and financial reward for those who report or contribute to the commission of this crime.

The Altruism Requirement as Moral Fiction.

It is widely agreed that living kidney donation is permitted but living kidney sales are not. Call this the Received View. One way to support the Received View is to appeal to a particular understanding of the conditions under which living kidney transplantation is permissible. It is often claimed that donors must act altruistically, without the expectation of payment and for the sake of another. Call this the Altruism Requirement. On the conventional interpretation, the Altruism Requirement is a moral fact. It states a legitimate constraint on permissible transplantation and is accepted on the basis of cogent argument. The present paper offers an alternative interpretation. I suggest the Altruism Requirement is a moral fiction-a kind of motivated falsehood. It is false that transplantation requires altruism. But the Requirement serves a purpose. Accepting it allows kidney donation but not kidney sale. It, in short, rationalizes the Received View.

Was there a Better Time to be Mother? Past and Present of the Socio-Cultural Fear of Crime

Fear of crime refers to the fear of being a victim of crime, and it is nurtured by folklore and the media. Folklore fosters fear of crime by using oral tradition transferred throughout generations by updating old contexts into modern times. On the other hand, the media visualizes the possibility of being a victim by introducing the real-life experiences of victims. Contrary to folklore, victims presented in the media seem more accessible, and the victimization of individuals can be proven. Folklore and the media have cooperated to keep the fear of crime alive to warn society that individual lives are on the verge of becoming victims of criminals. In this paper, I aim to describe the fear of crime through two particular crimes: Child abductions and organ thefts. Data for this research comes from two sets of materials: Newspaper news stories and semi-structured interviews conducted in face-to-face settings with mothers from two different generations. My research reveals that mothers of the eighties were scared of their children being victims of beggar gangs and organ trade criminals, while generation Y mothers suffer from the possibility of their children being victims of online grooming and sextortion. Keywords: Folklore, media, fear of crime, urban legends, organ theft narratives.

CXCR4: from B-cell development to B cell-mediated diseases.

Chemokine receptors are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. The C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), one of the most studied chemokine receptors, is widely expressed in hematopoietic and immune cell populations. It is involved in leukocyte trafficking in lymphoid organs and inflammatory sites through its interaction with its natural ligand CXCL12. CXCR4 assumes a pivotal role in B-cell development, ranging from early progenitors to the differentiation of antibody-secreting cells. This review emphasizes the significance of CXCR4 across the various stages of B-cell development, including central tolerance, and delves into the association between CXCR4 and B cell-mediated disorders, from immunodeficiencies such as WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis) syndrome to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. The potential of CXCR4 as a therapeutic target is discussed, especially through the identification of novel molecules capable of modulating specific pockets of the CXCR4 molecule. These insights provide a basis for innovative therapeutic approaches in the field.

Trafficking and Organs, Tissues, and Cells: An Examination of European and UK Legislation and Gaps

Abstract Substantial custodial sentences were handed down from the English Central Criminal Court for organ trafficking. Attempts to exploit vulnerable people for the purposes of organ removal, and for organ, tissue, and cells (otc) trafficking are ongoing in many jurisdictions. It is also clear from the 2019 EU evaluation of the Union legislation on blood, tissues, and cells that there is increasing commercialization in the procurement of human material for medical use, using global supply chains. Full traceability of all human material, for which there is a shortage to meet global medical needs, is required. The medical profession has drafted the Istanbul Declaration on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism 2008, calling for transplant tourism to be prohibited, and full engagement with transnational law enforcement to address developing transnational organized crime in this area. This paper addresses the global, Council of Europe, EU, and UK provisions in this area.

The influence of neighborhood dynamics on farmers’ intention to adopt e-commerce platforms for organic tea sales: a study in Thai Nguyen province of Northern Vietnam

The influence of neighborhood dynamics on farmers’ intention to adopt e-commerce platforms for organic tea sales: a study in Thai Nguyen province of Northern Vietnam

Towards true prices in food retailing: the value added tax as an instrument transforming agri-food systems

AbstractCurrent crises (i.e., climate crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting energy and food shortages) indicate the need for robust, and sustainable supply chains with regional food production and farmland to secure food supply in the European Union (EU). Recent research shows that organic food is more resilient to supply chain disruptions and price fluctuations. In this context, we examine an approach for the sustainable and resilient transformation of agri-food networks: can an adaptation of value added tax (VAT) levels work as a financial incentive to amplify resilient agricultural practices and sustainable dietary patterns? Within the setting of the amendment of the European framework directive on the use of VAT in 2022, we model the effects of adapting the current German VAT system by (1) reducing VAT on organic vegetarian food to 0% and (2) raising VAT on conventional meat and fish to 19%. Based on historical data on organic sales shares and price elasticities, we project sales shares differentiated by product group for each scenario. Then, we calculate expected tax revenues, changes in consumption patterns, and arising total external climate costs in Germany for both scenarios. Our results show that the overall consumption share of organic food would increase by 21.83% due to the modeled VAT reform compared to the status quo. Despite the VAT reduction to 0% on organic vegetarian products, the measure would yield €2.04 billion in extra tax revenues in Germany per year due to the increased taxation on conventional meat products. We find that annual environmental costs of €5.31 billion can be avoided as a result of lower external climate costs of organic and vegetarian food. Therefore, adjusting VAT rates in the food market can be a political instrument to drive organic food consumption and reduce animal livestock. This supports re-territorialization of agriculture and a more sustainable and resilient European food supply.

Barriers toward xenotransplantation in Arab World.

Organ transplant is a crucial therapeutic strategy offering a life-saving and transformative medical intervention. It provides an opportunity to improve their quality of life and increase their lifespan. The shortage of organs remains a critical global challenge, leading to a prolonged waiting times for organ receivers, which contributes to an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. Hence, xenotransplantation offered a promising solution to the global shortage of organs through the use of animal organs, leading to an increase in donor availability, reducing waiting times, minimizing organ trafficking, improving genetic engineering advancements, and driving scientific innovation. Even though xenotransplantation has many benefits in the clinical setting, it has many barriers that are hindering its achievements and constraining its occurrence. Some barriers to xenotransplant are general, such as the immunological barrier, while others are specific to certain regions due to local causes. The Arab region exhibits disparities in clinical settings compared to the global context, marked by the huge economic crisis and a shortage of trained healthcare professionals. Considering the huge resources and advancements needed in the field of xenotransplantation, this review aims to explore the specific barriers toward xenotransplantation in the Arab countries, highlighting the challenges to overcome these barriers.

The state of the organ trade: Narratives of corruption in Egypt and Bangladesh

AbstractThis paper provides a comparative analysis of the trade in human organs in Egypt and Bangladesh. The authors draw on extensive qualitative and ethnographic fieldwork in both countries to assess the efficacy of legal measures in response to the organ trade. Despite the introduction of tough criminal sanctions in Egypt and Bangladesh the buying and selling of organs (e.g., kidneys, liver lobes) has continued unabated. Although there have been some sporadic attempts from law enforcement to curb organ trading, political indifference to the bodies of the poor and vested commercial interests (of state and non-state actors) means that the organ trade remains a relatively low risk crime with high profits. Adopting the view that support not punishment is integral to reducing crime we argue that enhancing social support, e.g., increasing public expenditure on healthcare, would limit demand for illegal transplants and disrupt the symbiotic arrangements that underpin organ markets.

Reflections of Medical Social Workers’Roles in Living Organ Donors’Psychosocial Assessment: Human Rights and Social Justice Perspectives

研究目的：本研究以人權與社會正義觀點來探討醫務社會工作人員在活體器官捐贈社會心理評估中的角色、任務以及工作內容，以確保捐贈者自主、自願及知情下同意器官捐贈的行為。<br />研究方法：本研究採立意取樣，訪談現職從事活體器官捐贈社會心理評估工作或曾任職衛生福利部核准之活體肝臟移植或活體腎臟移植醫院之醫務社會工作人員。<br />研究結果：訪談資料顯示，醫務社會工作人員在活體器官捐贈社會心理評估的工作內容是透過會談來確認捐贈者是權利主體，其捐贈決定是自主、自願以及知情下同意；同時，捐贈者的性別、身心障礙或族群等脆弱性特質形塑捐贈決策中的角色期待、家庭關係壓力與脅迫。<br />研究結論：醫務社會工作人員在捐贈者社會心理評估裡的角色既是知情同意倫理彰顯者，以捐贈者為中心，進行充權，使其具備權利意識來決定同意或拒絕器官捐贈；也是捐贈者權益維護者，協助捐贈者審視捐贈決策的情境與社會脈絡，保護捐贈者不因脆弱性特質，遭受不公對待，而進行捐贈決策。Research Purpose Liver and kidney transplants are the most common forms of living organ transplants in Taiwan. According to Article 8, item 1, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Human Organ Transplant Act, consent to organ donation should be given in a condition of“sound mental capacity”and“free will.”To avoid coercion or organ trafficking and selling in situations of living organ donation and transplantation, a thorough assessment and examination must be performed prior to the procedure. This study examined how medical social workers (MSWs) adopted human rights and social justice perspectives in the psychosocial assessment of living organ donors before surgery to ensure donors’autonomy and willingness. <br />Method A purposive sampling technique was adopted that involved interviewing 12 MSWs (three males and nine females) assigned to living-donor liver transplant hospitals approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare or working in psychosocial assessment of living organ donation at the time of interviewing. Interviews were conducted between March 23 and April 10, 2021. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. <br />Results According to the research findings, the psychosocial assessment of living organ donation focuses on the donor’s demographic characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, and employment to ensure relationships between the donor and the recipient. It is also necessary to have information about the donor’s family system because potential donors are frequently under pressure to donate organs owing to role expectations. MSWs feel confident in their roles as professionals in the psychosocial evaluation of living organ donation since psychosocial evaluation is an essential skill to acquire in social work education. Furthermore, MSWs must ensure that potential donors’decisions are made freely and without any coercion, even though MSWs are not the only ones who respect and protect the donor’s rights to autonomy and self-determination during the psychosocial assessment process. Additionally, when donors are placed in oppressive situations during the donation decision-making process, MSWs must be aware of their vulnerability based on their gender, disability, or ethnicity to empower them to resist potential oppression or exploitation. In other words, the social work profession values the notion of social justice and emphasizes acknowledging service users’possible existence of the social injustice faced by disadvantaged groups. Psychosocial assessments of living donors help potential donors become aware of whether their characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity, or disability, cause them to be dominated and exploited. According to our findings, female family members, such as spouses, daughters, or daughters-in-law, are sometimes required to sacrifice themselves to donate living organs to other family members, especially when the female is financially reliant. <br />Conclusion The results suggest that MSWs are expected to maintain consciousness of rights to protect the free will, autonomy, and self-determination freedom of potential living organ donors. Moreover, based on social justice, MSWs are expected to protect living organ donors from the pressures caused by interpersonal relationships and social roles. Consequently, the role of medical social workers in the psychosocial evaluation of living organ donations may be viewed as an advocate for human rights and social justice practitioners.

Japanese Perception of Organ Donation and Implications for New Medical Technologies: Quantitative and Qualitative Social Media Analyses.

The Rapid Autopsy Program (RAP) is a valuable procedure for studying human biology and diseases such as cancer. However, implementing the RAP in Japan necessitates a thorough understanding of concepts such as good death and the integration of sociocultural aspects. By revising perceptions of organ donation on social media, we bring attention to the challenges associated with implementing new medical research procedures such as the RAP. This study aims to examine YouTube and Twitter/X to identify stakeholders, evaluate the quality of organ donation communication, and analyze sociocultural aspects associated with organ donation. Based on our findings, we propose recommendations for the implementation of new medical research procedures. Using the term "" (organ donation), we collected data from YouTube and Twitter/X, categorizing them into 5 dimensions: time, individuality, place, activity, and relationships. We utilized a scale to evaluate the quality of organ donation information and categorized YouTube videos into 3 groups to analyze their differences using statistical methods. Additionally, we conducted a text-based analysis to explore narratives associated with organ donation. Most YouTube videos were uploaded in 2021 (189/638, 29.6%) and 2022 (165/638, 25.9%), while tweets about organ donation peaked between 2019 and 2022. Citizens (184/770, 23.9%), media (170/770, 22.0%), and unknown actors (121/770, 15.7%) were the primary uploaders of videos on organ donation. In a sample of average retweeted and liked tweets, citizens accounted for the majority of identified users (64/91, 70%, and 65/95, 68%, respectively). Regarding Japanese regions, there were numerous information videos about organ donation in Hokkaido (F2.46,147.74=-5.28, P=.005) and Kyushu and Okinawa (F2.46,147.74=-5.28, P=.005). On Twitter/X, Japan and China were the most frequently mentioned countries in relation to organ donation discussions. Information videos often focused on themes such as borrowed life and calls to register as donors, whereas videos categorized as no information and misinformation frequently included accusations of organ trafficking, often propagated by Chinese-American media. Tweets primarily centered around statements of donation intention and discussions about family consent. The majority of video hyperlinks directed users to YouTube and Twitter/X platforms, while Twitter/X hyperlinks predominantly led to news reports from Japanese media outlets. There is significant potential to implement new medical research procedures such as the RAP in Japan. Recommendations include conceptualizing research data as borrowed data, implementing horizontally diversified management of donation programs, and addressing issues related to science misinformation and popular culture trends.

“Morbid spectacle”: allegorical dialectics of mammonism, humanity, and necropower inSquid Game(2021)

AbstractThis article uses Mbembe's concept of necropolitics as an analytical category to examine the representations of necropower in Squid Game. In the global “organ economy,” organ sellers decide to supply, and brokers then mediate between them and buyers. In contrast, South Korean loan sharks commodify delinquent debtors' organs by forcing them to sign a body waiver as collateral. Recent South Korean dramas have thematized this distinctive systemization of the black economy. Borrowing Lowenstein's “allegorical moment” concept, this article aims to illuminate representations of fluid necropower through children's games as a hinge between reality and the imaginary that invites viewers to dialectically evaluate death problems. The contestations of money and humanity synthetically emerge as necropower constantly moves among different entities: VIPs, a frontman, players, game rules, and money. This article claims that viewers process numerous allegorical moments created by the iconography of necropower and synthetically realize necropolitics and corporeality in Squid Game. Organ extractions and trade in episode two in particular represent “morbid spectacle” and the culmination of mammonism. This article analyzes scenes of death, games, the technique of killing, and esthetics to connect historical examples of the necropolitics that Mbembe draws on and to discuss representations of the organ trade in this recent Korean drama.

Ethical Views on the Issue of Organ Donation and Transplantation in Catholic Doctrine

In countries in Europe and America with a predominance of Christians in the population, there is a higher level of organ donation. Although the issue of post mortem donation is not mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, the idea of selfless sacrifice is entirely in keeping with the Christian spirit. The Roman Catholic Church was the first to recognize organ donation and transplantation as morally acceptable and indicated that it encourages organ donation.The purpose of the work was to analyze the views set forth in the official documents of the Roman Catholic Church on the issues of ethics in organ donation and transplantation.Materials and methods. The provisions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Epistles of the Popes of Rome, the Code of Canon Law and other ethical documents on the acceptability of the technology of organ transplantation and postmortem donation, the principle of the presumption of consent, the legitimacy of the declaration of brain death, the condemnation of organ trafficking, the inadmissibility of discrimination in the allocation of organs, the admissibility of transplantation from living donors, donation from infants with anencephaly, xenotransplantation are analyzed.Conclusion. The presented work testifies to the fact that the Catholic position on organ donation and transplantation is well and deeply developed, based on respect for the dignity of a person and his right to choose, the encouragement of the voluntary act of donating one's organs as a gift extending beyond the border of life and death.

Transplantes de órgãos: abordagens éticas e soluções legais

Abstract This integrative literature review investigates legal aspects and ethical solutions involved in the illegal organ trade, an activity that sparks debates about ethics and morals. Bibliographical search was conducted on the Virtual Health Library, PubMed and SciELO databases. A total of 14 papers were analyzed, which pointed to low supply associated with high demand for organs as the main etiology of the problem. This market takes advantage of vulnerable populations to coerce them into organ donations. Additionally, the lack of connection between international databases and instabilities in countries with high trafficking rates hinders police action to confront this crime. Organ trafficking should be combated by encouraging legal organ donation, confronting “transplant tourism” and actions aimed at the most vulnerable countries. International entities play a fundamental role in ensuring that different nations work together to repress this type of crime.

Assessing In Vivo Bacterial Extracellular Vesicle (BEV) Biodistribution Using Fluorescent Lipophilic Membrane Stains.

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are nano-size vesicles containing a cargo of bioactive molecules that can play key roles in microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. In tracking their biodistribution in vivo, BEVs can cross several physical host barriers including the intestinal epithelium, vascular endothelium, and blood-brain-barrier (BBB) to ultimately accumulate in tissues such as the liver, lungs, spleen, and the brain. This tissue-specific dissemination has been exploited for the delivery of biomolecules such as vaccines for mucosal delivery. Although numerous strategies for labeling and tracking BEVs have been described, most have constraints that impact on interpreting in vivo bioimaging patterns. Here, we describe a general method for labeling BEVs using lipophilic fluorescent membrane stains which can be adopted by non-expert users. We also describe how the procedure can be used to overcome potential limitations. Furthermore, we outline methods of quantitative ex vivo tissue imaging that can be used to evaluate BEV organ trafficking.

Repugnant markets and preferences in public

This study examines the effect of making judgments in public (vs. private) on the moral permissibility and willingness to engage in three types of potentially repugnant markets (organ sale, prostitution, marijuana). An experiment was conducted where participants responded to a series of questions about repugnant markets and their answers were either publicly revealed to the group they were in, using their name and photo, or kept fully anonymous. There was no effect of making judgments in public for markets for organs or drugs. For prostitution, however, subjects judged it as substantially less permissible and reported lower willingness to engage in the activity (assuming it was legal) when asked in public compared to when asked anonymously. These effects were mainly driven by male participants. Our study confirms that social signaling plays an important role when understanding when and why people judge certain markets as morally (un)permissable.

International standards and domestic legislation on human organ donation and transplantation

The article analyzes international standards for the quality and safety of organs for transplantation. Azerbaijan, like other countries, strictly prohibits organ trade. It criminalized the forcible removal of organs, fraud or coercion, and the buying or selling of organs. The objective of the work is to analyze the Oviedo Convention and the Council of Europe Convention on Combating Trafficking in Human Organs, as well as other legal acts, in comparison with the criminal and administrative laws of Azerbaijan. To achieve the objectives of the research, the author of the article used such methods as analysis and synthesis, the formal-legal method and the comparative-legal method. As a result of the research carried out, it was concluded that Azerbaijan should improve its relevant legislation taking into account the norms of these conventions. In particular, the State's priority should be to emphasize the donation of artificial organs and tissues instead of human donation.

Social network analysis of illicit organ trading networks: The Medicus case

Social network analysis of illicit organ trading networks: The Medicus case