The Philippines Catholic Bishops’ Conference has described the sale and trade of human organs, and issue of increasing concern across South East Asia as “morally unacceptable” and as “a violation [of the] the dignity of a human person.
The church’s comments add to the weight of concern and activity by human rights organisations and anti-poverty activists across the region, and to attempts by NGOs to raise the subject in international fora.
Reading the statement at a public launch, Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos declared: “Human organ sale or trade, by its very nature, is morally unacceptable. It is contrary to the dignity of the human person, [his and her] authentic autonomy and the essential equality of all persons.”
“We understand the poor, who should not be blamed. There are other ways to help them but not through organ sale. They are human beings and cannot be treated as commodities. We encourage voluntary organ donation from cadavers and also from living donors. We condemn any form of organ sale and organ trade,” added Oliveros.
Bishop Oliveros went on: “A just allocation of the scarce organ donor should be safeguarded. Scarce organ donors should be made available first to the local recipients. A strict limit on allocation should be set for foreign recipients.”
“We call for the education of our people especially with regard to organ donation. The physician or medical professional has the sublime duty to supply the possible candidates for organ donation with all the necessary information to help them make an informed consent.”
Both criminal gangs and some corrupt public officials have been accused of fuelling the human trade, which has assumed international dimensions in recent years.
(Source: The Ekklesia)
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