Arkansas Senate Passes Resolution Against Organ Harvesting
On February 28, 2019, the Arkansas Senate unanimously passed Resolution SR 14, “to encourage the United States Congress and the Arkansas Congressional Delegation to work to end organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in the People’s Republic of China.” The Senate resolution follows Arkansas House Resolution 1022 which was passed on February 18th.
The Senate resolution calls upon the Chinese government to “immediately end the practice of organ harvesting from all prisoners and prisoners of conscience.” It goes on to state that “organ tourism to China should not be shielded by medical confidentiality, but openly monitored” and that “no nation should allow its citizens to go to China for organs until China has allowed a full investigation into organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience, both past and present.”
SR 14 calls for the prosecution of those found to have engaged in unethical practices and the denial of entry to perpetrators involved in transplant abuses. Additionally, the medical community of Arkansas is encouraged “to engage in educating colleagues and residents of Arkansas about the risks of travel to China for organ transplants to help prevent Arkansas residents from unwittingly becoming involved in murder in the form of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.”
Minnesota Legislators Continue to Raise Awareness Against Forced Organ Harvesting in China
The Minnesota House and Senate, after passing Resolution SF 2090 in 2016, continue to raise awareness of the Chinese government’s harvesting of organs from prisoners, especially from religious minorities such as the Falun Gong, that drives China’s booming transplant industry.
A letter signed by 50 of the state’s legislators was recently sent to the Minnesota Medical Association asking that they take a position on the practice of forced organ harvesting and about patients from Minnesota who may travel to China for organs. Medical professionals are also urged to raise awareness by speaking out and developing plans to counter China’ current transplant procedures.
Representative Nels Pierson (R-Stewartville) added, “My father was a heart transplant recipient, so I know firsthand the importance of focusing our efforts on supporting our citizens in need of transplants. But forced organ harvesting is an egregious practice, and we must fight to stop it and protect the rights of those who are subjected to this unethical treatment.”
