Bishops back fight against organ trade

BISHOPS are backing a health department initiative to establish an organ donors’ registry.

CBCP Bioethics Commission chairman, Bishop Jose Oliveros, said he believes the department’s policy is a step in the right direction to stop the rampant illegal organ trade.

“Kidney-selling is wrong,” he said. “Organ donation must be voluntary.”

However, Bishop Oliveros, who is also a member of the Philippine Board on Organ Donations and Transplantation, headed by Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, said the government must also address poverty, which is the main reason people sell their kidneys for as low as $1,000 each.

“People who cannot get kidneys from deceased donors are buying from living donors,” Secretary Cabral said. “This is unethical not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the world.”

She said the new system seeks to give those needing kidney transplant a fair chance at addressing their health concerns.

Report from ucanews.com