Guest editorial: Organ trafficking and transplant tourism: a call for international collaboration

Excerpt

The thematic issue of the Journal of Medicine, Healthcare and Philosophy is dedicated to the global efforts to combat organ trafficking and transplant tourism. The negative impact of trafficking of human organs and transplant tourism on the application of transplant technology and the exploitation of the vulnerable people as organ providers has been documented worldwide (Gill et al. 2008; Budiani-Saberi and Delmonico 2008; WHO 2010). As stated in the Declaration of Istanbul, “organ trafficking and transplant tourism violate the principles of equity, justice and respect for human dignity, …transplant commercialism targets impoverished and otherwise vulnerable donors, it leads inexorably to inequity and injustice…” (Steering Committee of the Istanbul Summit. 2008). …