AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

Letter of Appeal from the AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility

26 March 1998

Li Peng Zongli
Premier of the People's Republic of China
9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie
Beijingshi 100032
People's Republic of China

Your Excellency:

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the largest organization of natural and social scientists in the United States, and the world's largest federation of scientific societies, with 143,000 individual members and 282 affiliated groups. Our AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility (Committee) was formed in 1976 to protect the human rights of scientists and deal with issues relating to scientific freedom worldwide.

We are writing to you on behalf of the Committee to express our concern about allegations that have recently resurfaced in the United States regarding the sale of human organs from executed prisoners in China. The Committee has learned of the recent arrest of two individuals in New York City, one of who claims to be a former prosecutor on Hainan Island in China. The two men reportedly offered to sell kidneys from prisoners to an F.B.I. agent posing as a medical executive. The Committee previously wrote to you in May 1995 about reports that we had received indicating that the retrieval of organs for transplantation from executed prisoners was a common occurrence in China.

You are probably aware that prominent human rights groups have alleged that executions are timed to meet the medical needs of organ recipients and that medical personnel take part in the executions to assure the viability of the organs for transport.

We would like to point out that the participation of medical personnel in executions is inconsistent with their globally acknowledged moral and ethical responsibilities as stated in the World Medical Association's International Code of Medical Ethics and Declaration of Geneva . In addition, if true the practice constitutes a serious violation of international human rights standards, including basic protections provided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In light of the evidence brought forth by credible human rights organizations, including the revelation of an official Chinese document on "Rules Concerning the Utilization of Corpses or Organs from Corpses of Executed Prisoners," the Committee calls on Chinese officials to bring the practice of the retrieval of organs for transplantation from executed prisoners to a halt. We urge the Chinese government to institute a system of organ donation in a manner consistent with World Health Organization Standards.

Sincerely,



Irving Lerch Mary Gray
Co-chair Co-Chair
Committee on Scientific Freedom Committee on Scientific Freedom
and Responsibility and Responsibility

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program