Trafficking for the purpose of organ harvesting

Speaking at the conference today, Dr Colin Sullivan, HTA CEO recognised the need for all bodies to play their part in detecting where vulnerable people may be subject to trafficking for the purpose of organ transplant. He said:

“The Human Tissue Authority is responsible for making the decision on whether every living organ donation in the UK can go ahead.  

“To be able to make a decision on whether to approve a living organ donation, there are four core points we need to be satisfied of: 
 

• no reward has been or will be given
• no duress/coercion is taking place 
• consent for removal for transplantation has been given 
• removal for transplantation is otherwise lawful

“Since July 2022 any person who is resident in England, Wales or Scotland will be committing an offence if they are involved in seeking, offering, or receiving payment or reward for donating organs for transplantation or initiating, negotiating, advertising or being involved in buying or selling human organs for transplantation, anywhere in the world.”

In 2023 the HTA approved 1121 living organ donations. The organs most often considered by HTA for approval are kidneys, or part of a liver.  HTA also make decisions on some bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell donations, but only in cases where the donor is a child that lacks competence, or an adult lacking capacity to consent.

Since the law was changed in 2022, the HTA has referred 11 cases to the police.