Police to question broker over organ transplants for Japanese in China

Wednesday 12th November, 10:31 AM JST

YOKOHAMA —

The Japanese police are set to question a 52-year-old man on suspicion of brokering organ transplants for Japanese patients in China for profit, in violation of Japan’s organ transplant law, investigative sources said Wednesday.

Hiroyuki Nagase, representative of the China International Organ Transplant Support Center based in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, is believed to have acted as a go-between for patients who made requests for transplants through an Internet website starting around 2004, according to the police.

› Login to comment

8 Comments

elbudamexicano at 06:05 PM JST - 12th November

Is this news,really news? The Chinese are infamous for organ translpant sales!
as_the_crow_flies at 08:21 PM JST - 12th November

Yes, trading in death (many of the organs are harvested from executed prisoners) continues to be news. Is it more newsworthy than a talentless talento's latest toothpaste promotion? Depends on you the reader, doesn't it? The news is in the latest development in something widely known to go on. They are trying to nail a fixer. As the Japanese market is so big, going for the Japanese middlemen is a very welcome move.

Give the gift of life, be an organ donor.
stipend at 09:53 PM JST - 12th November

What are individual Japanese going to do when they need an organ? Think quick! "Better him than me (to die)" I once read from a man who'd received an organ on being informed once back in Japan that the donor most likely had been a hapless prisoner of a police state.

I can't recall hearing of anyone arrested in China over organ donations before. The Shenyang police (waa?) had this guy first I think and now he's made his way back to Japan. Sounded like they just wanted him out. (ya, Shenyang police! probably just not enough bribes)
usaexpat at 12:30 AM JST - 13th November

Morality be damned, it's the same as the transplant list in the states where you sign up and wait to die. In all other matters physicians and hospitals see no problem in making a profit but in organ transplants your money or willingness to pay means nothing. I'm sure these were desperate people of means who wanted to save themselves. The only thing that scares me is whether or not the organs were stolen or people murdered for their organs as opposed to from naturally decesed donors.
BBLeo at 11:05 AM JST - 13th November

The world is now free trade, and China didn't invent so far organs that suitable for ordinary people, instead they do have some secret formulas for politicians. And this organ trade is just usual business like 'melamine' products.
stipend at 01:51 PM JST - 13th November

Q: How rare are transplants in Japan?

A: They count in single digits.

Sad but true to a couple years ago. And it's likely the same today.
stipend at 01:59 PM JST - 13th November

A couple years back whenever they hooked a donor it was a major media event. A virtual three ring circus!

Donor cards are slooowly catching on but even with, arcane medical laws prevent all but a very few. And the family can still, and very often, refuse! (i wonder if it might be to avoid all the media hoopla)

Japan has to change.