(Minghui.org) Learning about and helping end crimes of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in China has become a focus again in southern Taiwan. At recent forums attended by public health decision makers and medical professionals, leaders in various medical associations proposed plans to increase awareness of the issue among professionals. Politicians stated that they would follow the international human rights trend and do their part to stop organ tourism.

Mr. William Lai, mayor of Tainan City, stated that he would take action to stop organ tourism after meeting with Mr. Matas, “I agree with Mr. David Matas and will take his advice. Both the Tainan City and the central government should follow the international human rights standard.” Mr. Matas is a renowned human rights attorney and subject matter expert on the issue of organ harvesting in China.

Ms. Pan Chun-mei, chairwoman of the Kaohsiung Nurses Association, planned to incorporate organ harvesting in China into the organization's education and training, to raise awareness of the issue. Dr. Chou, board member of the Taiwan International Organ Transplantation Care Association, proposed to keep up the pressure on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to help fellow Chinese people.

Two forums on “Medical Safety and International Legislation Trend of Organ Tourism” were held at the National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and National Cheng Kung University on November 21 and November 25, respectively. Both Tainan, the fourth largest city, and Kaohsiung, the second largest city, are major cities in southern Taiwan.

Nine medical organizations, including the Taiwan International Organ Transplant Care Association and the Kaohsiung Medical Association, co-sponsored the forums, and Mr. David Matas was the special guest speaker. Many medical professionals and public health decision makers attended the forums.

Forum on “Medical Safety and International Legislation Trends of Organ Tourism” at National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on November 21, 2013.

Mr. William Lai (right), mayor of Tainan City, met with Mr. David Matas (left), a renowned human rights attorney and subject matter expert on the issue of organ harvesting in China.

Raising Awareness and Not Being Complicit with the CCP

Ms. Pan Chun-mei, chairwoman of the Kaohsiung Nurses Association, plans to incorporate organ harvesting in China into the education of nurses to raise awareness of the issue.

Ms. Pan Chun-mei, chairwoman of the Kaohsiung Nurses Association, said she was shocked, “Today I learned that patients who go to China for organ transplantation get organs which are illegally obtained from involuntary donors, many of whom are Falun Gong practitioners. If a government takes organs from its people for lucrative profit and pays no attention to human rights, that is too horrible! People have no guarantee of safety. They can be killed without notice.

“Many medical doctors in Taiwan don't know the true situation, and genuinely advise patients to go to China for organ transplants. They will be shocked when they learn the facts about the CCP’s live organ harvesting. Today’s information should alert the conscience of all medical personnel. The public also needs to be aware of the issue. However eager one is to get matched organs, they shouldn't become accomplices in the CCP crimes. Clear organ sources should be pursued. I am the chairwoman of the Kaohsiung Nurses Association. I will promote awareness of this issue in our nurses education and training.”

Perpetrators of Live Organ Harvesting Should be Brought to Justice

Gynecologist Cheng Chong-chi said after attending the forum, “A patient can get organs within a week, which indicates that blood type matching was done beforehand. Thus the organs are not from death-row inmates, but Falun Gong practitioners. Such live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners is inhumane and immoral. The perpetrators must be brought to justice.”

Calling for Exerting Consistent Pressure until CCP’s Atrocity Stops

Dr. Chou, board member of the Taiwan International Organ Transplantation Care Association, calls for consistent pressure on the CCP to help end the atrocity of live organ harvesting.

Dr. Chou, board member of the Taiwan International Organ Transplantation Care Association, called for persistent pressure on the CCP regarding the atrocity of live organ harvesting, “We all need to pay attention to the issue and apply pressure on the Party until the issue is resolved and all steps in organ transplantation are open and accounted.”

Dr. Hu Nai-wen, chairman of the Taiwan International Organ Transplantation Care Association, said, “I hope everyone relays the information learned today about live organ harvesting to people around them to help stop the crime and this safeguard kind-hearted group.”

Thinking a Step Further

One of the goals of the forums is to accelerate establishing laws that prohibit organ tourism, a step beyond that which Taiwan has already done.

The Taiwanese Legislative Yuan voted for the Budget Resolution Concerning Medical Organ Transplantation, which is legally binding for the Department of Health, on November 22, 2012.

The Department of Health requires major medical institutions and physicians to register the origin country of all organ sourcing and the hospital information (including surgeon identification) where patients received their organ transplants abroad when they apply for postoperative health insurance payments after returning home.

The awareness of medical doctors as well as the public and government policy makers regarding prohibiting organ transplant tourism will help stop forced organ harvesting in China. The demand in the organ black market is part of the incentives for perpetrators in China in joining hands to commit crimes of forced live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners for lucrative profits.

The CCP's persecution policy dehumanizes Falun Gong practitioners and instigates doctors in military and local hospitals, as well as police and judicial systems, to work together in the atrocity.