CHINA: EXECUTED PRISONERS ARE MAIN SOURCE OF ORGAN DONATIONS

August 26, 2009: two-thirds of organ donors in China are executed prisoners, state media reported, as health officials launched a national donation system. Huang Jiefu, vice-minister for health, said written consent was required from condemned prisoners, but added that they were "definitely not a proper source for organ transplants".
Experts estimated that more than 65% of donors were criminals who had received the death penalty. (Sources: Amnesty International, 26/08/2009)