Organ theft#In science fiction

Recorded rumors of organ theft, particularly involving the theft of one or both kidneys, have been spreading since 1994.{{cite book |last=Brunvand |first=J. H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9kgmRU31HzYC |title=The Baby Train and Other Lusty Urban Legends |publisher=W. W. Norton |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-393-34672-5 |page=149 |access-date=2019-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121174015/https://books.google.com/books?id=9kgmRU31HzYC |archive-date=2017-11-21 |url-status=live}} These rumors may have originated from a news story involving a Turkish man named Ahmet Koc, who claimed that his kidney was stolen while he was in a hospital. However, it was later discovered that Koc sold his kidney and was dissatisfied with the payment he received.{{cite web |last=Beelman |first=Maud |date=1989-07-16 |title=Body Parts Needed for Transplants: Trade in Human Organs Stirs Global Attention |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-16-mn-5752-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708150758/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-16-mn-5752-story.html |archive-date=2019-07-08 |access-date=2019-07-08 |website=The Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |last1=Radford |first1=Benjamin |author-link=Benjamin Radford |date=2008-02-19 |title=The Truth About Sensational Kidney Thefts |url=https://www.livescience.com/4826-truth-sensational-kidney-thefts.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708150414/https://www.livescience.com/4826-truth-sensational-kidney-thefts.html |archive-date=2019-07-08 |access-date=2019-07-08 |website=Live Science}}

While there is a significant issue of worldwide organ trafficking, there have been few proven cases of organ theft. Benjamin Radford, an American skeptical investigator, has emphasized the complexity of organ transplantation, highlighting the necessity for organ matches, tight time-frames, and specialized medical training. Radford noted that common variations of the cases, such as a traveler being poisoned or a child being taken for organ harvesting, are improbable scenarios for organ theft.{{cite journal |last1=Radford |first1=Benjamin |author-link=Benjamin Radford |date=June 1999 |title=Bitter Harvest: The Organ-Snatching Urban Legends |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/1999/05/bitter_harvest_the_organ_snatching_urban_legends/ |url-status=live |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=34–48 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708153007/https://skepticalinquirer.org/1999/05/bitter_harvest_the_organ_snatching_urban_legends/ |archive-date=8 July 2019 |access-date=8 July 2019}}

Suspected cases of organ theft generally occur in institutional settings with the systems and expertise that make organ transplants possible.

The Gurgaon kidney scandal, a multi-million dollar illegal kidney transplant racket,{{cite news |date=2008-01-25 |title=Kidney racket busted in Gurgaon |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Kidney-racket-busted-in-Gurgaon/articleshow/2729795.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2008-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019170125/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-01-25/delhi/27776613_1_kidney-racket-transplant-racket-moradabad-senior-superintendent |archive-date=2012-10-19}} was uncovered in January 2008 in Gurgaon, an industrial township near New Delhi, India. Police later arrested several individuals involved in the racket. The victims, primarily from financially destitute backgrounds in Uttar Pradesh, had their kidneys transplanted into clients from various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Greece. The police raid was initiated based on complaints from locals in Moradabad about illegal kidney sales.{{cite news |date=2008-01-25 |title=Doctor held for kidney racket |publisher=NDTV |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039411&ch=1/25/2008%204:41:00%20PM |url-status=live |access-date=2008-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213035129/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039411&ch=1%2F25%2F2008%204%3A41%3A00%20PM |archive-date=2008-02-13}} Amit Kumar, the main person accused in the scandal, was arrested in Nepal on February 7, 2008, though he denied any involvement in criminal activity.{{cite web |title=I have done nothing wrong: Kingpin |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080040737 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211073424/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080040737 |archive-date=2008-02-11 |access-date=2008-02-08}}

The scandal involved a local clinic operating for approximately six to seven years. Donors were enticed with around $300 or more for the removal of a kidney,{{cite news |last1=Hafeez |first1=Mateen |title=Kidney racket: Women did con job for Amit Kumar |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kidney-racket-Women-did-con-job-for-Amit-Kumar/articleshow/2753960.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2008-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019185000/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-02-04/india/27746299_1_kidney-racket-amit-kumar-raut |archive-date=2012-10-19}} initially under the guise of job opportunities. Later, they were coerced or drugged against their will to undergo kidney removal surgeries.{{cite news |last=Ramesh |first=Randeep |date=2008-01-25 |title=Indian police arrest suspected kidney snatching gang |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/india/story/0,,2246988,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=2008-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026210351/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jan/25/india.randeepramesh |archive-date=2021-10-26}}

The issue of organ theft during and after the Kosovo War has been widely reported and investigated.http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/new-details-emerge-in-kosovo-organ-trafficking-case {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117002310/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/new-details-emerge-in-kosovo-organ-trafficking-case|date=2017-11-17}} |newspaper=Balkan Insight |date=14 December 2010{{cite web |title=United Nations Document |url=http://www.france24.com/static/infographies/documents/kosovo_house_2003.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403083203/http://www.france24.com/static/infographies/documents/kosovo_house_2003.pdf |archive-date=2017-04-03 |access-date=2014-12-19 |website=France24.com}}Chuck Sudetic, Carla Del Ponte, La caccia: Io e i criminali di guerra, Milan: Feltrinelli (2008), {{ISBN|88-07-17144-9}} Accusations suggest that individuals were killed to remove their organs for sale on the black market. The victims were believed to be of Serbian nationality, and the perpetrators were linked to the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) in 1999.{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Paul |date=14 December 2010 |title=Kosovo physicians accused of illegal organs removal racket |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/14/illegal-organ-removals-charges-kosovo |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827022747/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/14/illegal-organ-removals-charges-kosovo |archive-date=27 August 2013}}{{cite web |last=Flottau |first=Renate |date=22 September 2008 |title=Albania's House at the End of the World: Family Denies Organ Harvesting Allegations |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,580422,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129133136/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,580422,00.html |archive-date=29 January 2012 |access-date=4 August 2012 |work=Der Spiegel}}

Various estimates were provided regarding the number of victims, ranging from a "handful" to over 300. In 2010, a report by Swiss prosecutor Dick Marty for the Council of Europe (CoE) uncovered "credible, convergent indications"{{cite news |date=14 December 2010 |title=New Details Emerge in Kosovo Organ Trafficking Case |newspaper=Balkan Insight |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/new-details-emerge-in-kosovo-organ-trafficking-case |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117002310/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/new-details-emerge-in-kosovo-organ-trafficking-case |archive-date=17 November 2017}} of an illegal trade in human organs dating back over a decade, involving the deaths of some Serb captives.{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Paul |date=14 December 2010 |title=Kosovo physicians accused of illegal organs removal racket |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/14/illegal-organ-removals-charges-kosovo |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827022747/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/14/illegal-organ-removals-charges-kosovo |archive-date=27 August 2013}} The report was endorsed by the CoE, which called for a thorough investigation.

Since the report's issuance, there have been doubts expressed by some senior sources in the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and many members of the European Parliament regarding the report's foundations and evidence supporting the allegations.[https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0311/1224291885150.html "Politician angers MEPs over Kosovo organ harvesting claim"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023112902/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0311/1224291885150.html|date=2012-10-23}}. The Irish Times The head of the war crimes unit of EULEX, Matti Raatikainen, stated that there is no concrete evidence, including no bodies or witnesses, in the case. He described these allegations as a "distraction" that hindered efforts to find the remains of individuals still missing from the conflict.{{cite web |date=27 May 2010 |title=End of the road for Kosovo organ claims? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10166800 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421085945/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10166800 |archive-date=21 April 2019 |access-date=1 February 2013 |publisher=BBC}}

The allegations of forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and other political prisoners in China have raised concerns internationally.{{Cite news |last=Elliot |first=Tim |date=9 November 2019 |title='Crimes against humanity': is China killing political prisoners for their organs? |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/crimes-against-humanity-is-china-killing-political-prisoners-for-their-organs-20191105-p537md.html}}{{Cite news |last=Samuels |first=Gabriel |date=12 July 2016 |title=China carrying out over 60,000 illegal organ transplants annually, report finds |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-carrying-out-millions-illegal-organ-transplants-annually-report-finds-a7107091.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-carrying-out-millions-illegal-organ-transplants-annually-report-finds-a7107091.html |archive-date=24 May 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Elks |first=Sonia |date=17 June 2019 |title=China is harvesting organs from Falun Gong members, finds expert panel |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-china-rights/china-is-harvesting-organs-from-falun-gong-members-finds-expert-panel-idUSKCN1TI236}} These allegations suggest that these individuals are being executed on demand to provide organs for transplant to recipients, and that this practice is driven by both the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong and financial incentives.{{cite news |last1=Xu |first1=Vicky |last2=Xiao |first2=Bang |date=20 April 2018 |title=Falun Gong: Two decades after a deadly ban in China, adherents still face pressure in Australia |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-21/what-is-the-falun-gong-movement-and-does-china-harvest-organs/9679690 |access-date=27 November 2021}}

A report by David Kilgour, David Matas, and Ethan Gutmann, published by the US government anti-communist think tank Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, has been a primary source for these allegations. The report claims that political prisoners, particularly Falun Gong practitioners, are targeted for their organs.

Research undertaken by the Washington Post has questioned the allegations.{{cite news |last=Denyer |first=Simon |date=September 15, 2017 |title=China used to harvest organs from prisoners. Under pressure, that practice is finally ending. |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-the-face-of-criticism-china-has-been-cleaning-up-its-organ-transplant-industry/2017/09/14/d689444e-e1a2-11e6-a419-eefe8eff0835_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200705063823/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-the-face-of-criticism-china-has-been-cleaning-up-its-organ-transplant-industry/2017/09/14/d689444e-e1a2-11e6-a419-eefe8eff0835_story.html |archive-date=2020-07-05}} The Washington Post's investigation indicated that China does not import sufficient quantities of immunosuppressant drugs, which are crucial for transplant recipients, to carry out the alleged widespread organ harvesting.

In August 2024, The Diplomat reported its interview with Cheng Pei Ming, the first known survivor of China’s forced organ harvesting.{{Cite web |title=First Known Survivor of China's Forced Organ Harvesting Speaks Out |url=https://thediplomat.com/2024/08/first-known-survivor-of-chinas-forced-organ-harvesting-speaks-out/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}} Cheng, a Falun Gong practitioner, recounted how he was subjected to repeated blood tests and a subsequent forced surgery while imprisoned in China and later discovered during medical exams in the U.S. that segments of his liver and a portion of his lung had been surgically removed.

The 2009 Aftonbladet Israel controversy erupted following a 17 August 2009 article in the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, which alleged that Israeli troops harvested organs from Palestinians. Written by Donald Boström, the article sparked international outrage and strained Sweden-Israel relations. It claimed that bodies of young men from the West Bank and Gaza were returned to their families with missing organs, a report Israeli and US officials condemned as unfounded and linked to antisemitic tropes. Despite calls for denouncement, the Swedish government upheld press freedom principles, refusing to condemn the article.

In December 2009, further controversy was fueled by an interview release with Yehuda Hiss, former chief pathologist at Israel's forensic institute, admitting to unauthorized organ harvesting in the 1990s, which Israeli health officials confirmed but stated had ceased.{{Cite web |title=Israel admits to organ thefts |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2009/12/21/israel-admits-to-organ-thefts |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

Organ theft is a common trope in science fiction and wider speculative fiction, having been popularized by the Known Space universe created by Larry Niven, where it is called "organlegging", a portmanteau of "organ" and "bootlegging".{{Cite web|url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/organlegging|title=Themes : Organlegging : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia|website=www.sf-encyclopedia.com|access-date=2020-01-31|archive-date=2020-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415103310/http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/organlegging|url-status=live}} Due to organ transplantation becoming safe and universally effective, a huge potential black market in body parts was able to be exploited by murderous racketeers.

Literary critic John Kenneth Muir cited the Vidiians, from TV series Star Trek: Voyager, as an example of the prevalence of organ harvesting story arcs in science fiction, comparing them to similar ideas explored in earlier British television shows such as UFO, Space: 1999, and in the episode "Powerplay" in the third series of Blake's 7. He speculated that there may be a connection between these science fiction storylines and the spread of organ trafficking urban legends.{{cite book|last = Muir|first = John Kenneth|authorlink = John Kenneth Muir|year = 2006|title = A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7, the 1978–1981 British Television Space Adventure|publisher = McFarland & Company|location = Jefferson, N.C.|isbn = 9780786426607|chapter = Powerplay|page = 106-108|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MyySCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA107}}{{rp|107}} Other academics have made similar observations that the Vidiians and other science fiction depictions of organ harvesting have the potential to adversely influence public knowledge and perceptions of scientific issues, including genetics and organ donation.{{cite journal|last1 = Spigner|first1 = Clarence|last2 = Weaver|first2 = Marcia|last3 = Cárdenas|first3 = Vicky|last4 = Allen|first4 = Margaret D.|year = 2002|title = Organ Donation and Transplantation: Ethnic Differences in Knowledge and Opinions Among Urban High School Students|journal = Ethnicity and Health|volume = 7|issue = 2|pages = 87–101|doi = 10.1080/1355785022000038579|pmid = 12511196|s2cid = 28644786}}{{cite journal|last = O'Neill|first = F. K.|year = 2006|title = Elucidations from Pisum sativum to 5-HTT and other genes – Book Review: An Intelligent Person's Guide to Genetics by Adrian Woolfson|journal = Heredity|volume = 97|issue = 2|page = 135|doi = 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800855|doi-access = free|url = https://www.nature.com/articles/6800855.pdf}} Clarence Spiger and colleagues, in a study of student perceptions of organ donations, highlighted the Vidiians as an example of a problematic source of information about the topic on television, a medium which many participants had identified as a key source for their understanding. "We can only speculate", they wrote, "that students' responses could have been indirectly or subconsciously influenced through the viewing of such programming." Emily Russell, in exploring the way embalming and other techniques are used to make death appear lifelike, notes that "the conceptual groundwork is laid for organ transfer as the 'gift of life' [and thus] organ 'harvesting' then becomes not the dystopic vision of science fiction, but a celebrated and natural transfer of life from death."{{cite book|first = Emily|last = Russell|title = Transplant Fictions: A Cultural Study of Organ Exchange|chapter = Making the Lifelike Corpse|series = Palgrave Studies in Literature, Science and Medicine|pages = 67–112|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hhCTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA80|publisher = Palgrave Macmillan|year = 2019|isbn = 9783030121358|doi = 10.1007/978-3-030-12135-8_3|s2cid = 188743178}}{{rp|80}}

• Charlie the Unicorn, a 2005 short viral video
• Coma, 1977 novel by Robin Cook
• Coma, 1978 film, based on the aforementioned novel
• Death Warrant, 1990 film, where a murder mystery involves organ theft where healthy prison inmates are murdered for healthy organs
• Fleisch, a 1979 German made-for-television film in which a newly married man is abducted by organ traffickers in the American Southwest
• Organ procurement
• Pound of Flesh, a 2015 film in which a former commando falls prey to organ thieves
• Turistas, a 2006 American horror film, in which the main characters who are tourists are abducted in the Brazilian countryside for purposes of organ theft
• Snakehead, a 2007 Alex Rider novel in which the title character is kidnapped and sent to a facility for organ theft in the Southeast Asian jungle

{{reflist}}

{{Urban legends}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Organ theft}}

Category:Organ transplantation

Category:Science fiction themes

Category:Urban legends