Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting

                                                                    Promoting Ethical Practices in Medicine

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DAFOH

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Publications about unethical and forced organ procurement practices mainly reported from China and summarized in the Kilgour & Matas Report triggered the wish in the medical community to found the medical organization Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH) that will look particularly into illegal and unethical forms of organ harvesting. Membership is free for medical doctors and medical professionals.

DAFOH considers any form of organ removal that jeopardizes the donor’s life and welfare, or which pursues to end a donor’s life in order to obtain an organ for transplantation or other reason, to be unethical organ harvesting. This is in contrast with donating an organ for transplantation with consent.
In this regard the systematic organ harvesting practices in China are of major concern for medical doctors worldwide.

DAFOH seeks to bring unethical medical practices to public awareness, to initiate further investigation and to promote ethical practices in medicine. 
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On July 1, 2008, DAFOH initiates a petition to the Chinese Ministry of Health asking for explanation of the transplantation figures in China. DAFOH is calling medical professionals to support the initiative and to sign the petition online.
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On June 18, 2008, spokesman Dr. Damon Noto presented DAFOH's concerns about forced organ harvesting in China in the Bronxnet TV.
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On June 12, 2008, Dr. Gerry Koffman, DAFOH's coordinator in Canada, has received the Peter R. Newman Humanitarian Award by the Medical Staff Association at the North York General Hospital. - The annual award recognizes an exemplary commitment to the welfare of individuals and the community. This year the Award Committee has awarded the prize to Dr. Koffman in recognition of his dedication to inform the medical community as well as patients about unethical practices of forced organ harvesting in China.
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DAFOH's letter of request to the International Olympic Committee on January 1, 2008.
Background: Chinese officials have indicated to exclude Falun Gong from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. 
This move carries a pattern of discrimination against Falun Gong, which is violating the Olympic Charter. In order to conform to the Olympic Charter DAFOH requests the IOC to urge the Chinese government to allow unrestricted access of Falun Gong at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
DAFOH's view: Ending the discrimination against Falun Gong would contribute in terminating organ harvesting from this targeted group.

 


Remarks about Organ Donation

Organ donation is the procedure of donating an organ after making an informed and active decision in the mental status of clear consciousness, commonly understood as “donating with consent”. Donating an organ is a voluntary act and expresses the free wish and will of the organ donor.

DAFOH shares the view of the WMA, TTS and other organizations that organs and tissues have to be donated freely and without coercion. Because of the restrictions in liberty in a prison environment it is unlikely that prisoners are free to make independent decisions and thus an autonomous informed consent for donation cannot be obtained. This point of view is a major factor in order to understand the illegal dimension of organ harvesting in China.

DAFOH is calling on all medical doctors and transplant professionals around the world to join us in demanding an unfettered access into Chinese detention facilities, prisons and hospitals and in demanding an independent investigation of the organ harvesting practices in China.
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