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Kidneys bought from Pakistani donors The Canadian Press \|\| May 08, 2006 Related - Canadian Expert Condemns Chinese Regime's Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Related - Parts from a single body could fetch up to $150,000 An Alberta company is helping patients with failing kidneys buy new organs from live Pakistani donors, sparking a fierce debate about the ethics of paying cash for human body parts. Overseas Medical Services in Calgary will arrange a speedy kidney donation and transplant surgery through Lahore-based Aadil Hospital for $32,000 US. Liver, pancreas and lung transplants are also available for purchase from Pakistani donors through the hospital, Aruna Thurairajan, a former Sri Lankan medical administrator who owns Overseas Medical, said Monday. But since her company started offering the service earlier this year, it has only received requests for kidney donations, she said. "I have had a steady stream of callers," said Thurairajan, who has an agreement with the hospital and receives a 10 per cent commission on a patient's hospital bill. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com "Every patient who has called me has said, 'I need a life. I'm tired of being on dialysis.' " About 4,000 Canadians are waiting for an organ transplant -- and 75 per cent of them are kidney patients, according to the Kidney Foundation of Canada. None of Thurairajan's clients has undergone a transplant yet, although she said a Toronto man is expected to travel to Pakistan for a new kidney within a month. Another two patients from British Columbia, two from Ontario and 12 Americans have contacted Overseas Medical Services about purchasing a kidney, she said. The practice is outlawed in several countries including Canada, although there is no law preventing Canadians from travelling elsewhere to buy organs. The company's service is generating a lot of controversy, however. "It's taking advantage of vulnerable people for self-serving goals and that's immoral," said John Baker, a University of Calgary bioethicist. "We can understand why the (patients) are doing it, but that doesn't make it right." The opening of Overseas Medical Services comes three years after a Vancouver firm, the Kidney Group, began offering patients kidney transplants in China for $75,000 US. It isn't clear if the company is still operating. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Kidneys bought from Pakistani donors

The Canadian Press || May 08, 2006

Related - Canadian Expert Condemns Chinese Regime's Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong

Related - Parts from a single body could fetch up to $150,000

An Alberta company is helping patients with failing kidneys buy new organs from live Pakistani donors, sparking a fierce debate about the ethics of paying cash for human body parts.

Overseas Medical Services in Calgary will arrange a speedy kidney donation and transplant surgery through Lahore-based Aadil Hospital for $32,000 US.

Liver, pancreas and lung transplants are also available for purchase from Pakistani donors through the hospital, Aruna Thurairajan, a former Sri Lankan medical administrator who owns Overseas Medical, said Monday.

But since her company started offering the service earlier this year, it has only received requests for kidney donations, she said.

"I have had a steady stream of callers," said Thurairajan, who has an agreement with the hospital and receives a 10 per cent commission on a patient's hospital bill.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

"Every patient who has called me has said, 'I need a life. I'm tired of being on dialysis.' "

About 4,000 Canadians are waiting for an organ transplant -- and 75 per cent of them are kidney patients, according to the Kidney Foundation of Canada. None of Thurairajan's clients has undergone a transplant yet, although she said a Toronto man is expected to travel to Pakistan for a new kidney within a month.

Another two patients from British Columbia, two from Ontario and 12 Americans have contacted Overseas Medical Services about purchasing a kidney, she said.

The practice is outlawed in several countries including Canada, although there is no law preventing Canadians from travelling elsewhere to buy organs.

The company's service is generating a lot of controversy, however.

"It's taking advantage of vulnerable people for self-serving goals and that's immoral," said John Baker, a University of Calgary bioethicist.

"We can understand why the (patients) are doing it, but that doesn't make it right."

The opening of Overseas Medical Services comes three years after a Vancouver firm, the Kidney Group, began offering patients kidney transplants in China for $75,000 US.

It isn't clear if the company is still operating.

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