Letter Signed by 106 U.S. Congressmen Requesting the State Department Release Information on Organ Harvesting in China

(Minghui.org) On October 3, 106 U.S. Congressmen signed a “Dear Colleague Letter” to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, expressing their concerns about the forced organ harvesting in China, and requesting the State Department release any information they might have on this very important matter. The Dear Colleague letter was co-sponsored by Representative Robert Andrews (D-NJ) and Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and circulated in the House.

Below is the letter:

The Dear Colleague Letter to the Secretary of State

Dear Colleague:

Organ transplantation is one of the greatest advancements in modern medicine. It is a procedure that can and has saved thousands of lives. Its success, however, is dependent upon the availability of compatible organs. Medical doctors in the United States and around the world are growing increasingly concerned about alleged unethical organ procurement practices and abuses of transplant medicine abroad. This is no truer than in China, where serious allegations suggest unimaginable abuses have occurred.

Dr. Wang Guoqi, a Chinese physician, in 2001 testified to the US House of Representatives’ International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights about his involvement in harvesting of organs from executed prisoners in China. Since then, other allegations have been brought, including recent testimony given at the September 12, 2012 hearing, “Organ Harvesting of Religious and Political Dissidents by the Chinese Communist Party,” implicating Chinese hospitals and doctors in the practice of forced organ harvesting from prisoners, to allegedly include from living practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, Uighurs, Tibetans and House Christians.

We will send the letter below to Secretary Clinton requesting more information on what the State Department knows about transplant abuses in China and ask that you join us in this important effort.  

Please contact Adrienne Izzo in Rep. Andrews' office at 5-6501 or [e-mail] by COB September 20 if you would like to be added to the letter. (Deadline has since been extended to October 1, 2012)

Sincerely,

ROBERT E. ANDREWS                                         CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

Member of Congress                                                Member of Congress

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Madame Secretary:

Organ transplantation is one of the greatest advancements in modern medicine. When performed in accordance with ethical standards, it is a procedure that can and has saved thousands of lives. Despite the many achievements in the field of transplant medicine, its success is dependent upon the availability of compatible organs. Far too often, the demand for organs is greater than the availability. In some countries, it is alleged that this demand has led to the development of an organ black market. Medical doctors in the United States and around the world are growing increasingly concerned about alleged unethical organ procurement practices and abuses of transplant medicine abroad. This is no truer than in China, where serious allegations suggest unimaginable abuses have occurred.

Dr. Wang Guoqi, a Chinese physician, in 2001 testified to the US House of Representatives’ International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights about his involvement in harvesting of organs from executed prisoners in China. Since then, other allegations have been brought, including recent testimony given at the September 12, 2012 hearing, “Organ Harvesting of Religious and Political Dissidents by the Chinese Communist Party,” implicating Chinese hospitals and doctors in the practice of forced organ harvesting from prisoners, to allegedly include from living practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, Uighurs, Tibetans and House Christians.

In February, Wang Lijun, the Deputy Mayor of Chongqing overseeing public security, spent over 24-hours at the US Consulate in Chengdu. It is claimed by some that Wang Lijun may have been personally involved in these horrific organ harvesting practices on living prisoners in China. While at the US Consulate, it is claimed that Wang Lijun may have divulged information about the harvesting of organs from still living Falun Gong practitioners. If such evidence was received and brought to light, measures could be taken to help stop such abominable abuses.

We therefore ask that the State Department release any information it may have that relates to transplant abuses in China, including any documentation that Wang Lijun may have provided to our Consulate in Chengdu.  

Sincerely,

Adrienne C. Izzo
Congressional Fellow
Congressman Rob Andrews (NJ-01)
[phone]