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2006-11-18 China-Japan-Koreas
China admits to organ market
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Posted by Spot 2006-11-18 12:27|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Great Larry Niven story (IIRC) about this issue.

Might that story be, "A Gift From Earth"?
The planet Plateau, in the Tau Ceti system, was settled by humans some 300 years before the plot begins. On arrival, the crew of the first colony ship used the weapons aboard ship to force the colonists (awoken from suspended animation) to accept a dictatorship, and by the time of the story there is a firm class division between Crew and Colonists, held together by fear of 'Implementation', the secret police who take criminals and dissidents to the organ banks, where they are cut up for fresh organs to keep the Crew and docile Colonists young and healthy.

Much of A Gift From Earth revolves around Niven's idea that organ transplants would lead to a shortage of suitable donors, causing citizens to support widespread capital punishment for even trivial crimes, in order to ward off the effects of their own aging and death. This theme recurs in other Niven stories, particularly the Gil Hamilton stories.

Quite an odd little vignette from Niven.
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2006-11-18 13:05||   2006-11-18 13:05|| Front Page Top

#2 "Americans are among the foreigners who have headed to China for transplants as the waiting time for kidneys and livers has grown in the United States. U.S. transplant doctors say the majority seem to be patients of Chinese ancestry who feel comfortable navigating the medical system there."

Change that to "who feel comfortable supporting a system like this". I was wondering what kind of American would patronize a totally screwed-up system like this.
Posted by gromky 2006-11-18 13:54||   2006-11-18 13:54|| Front Page Top

#3 An American who thinks they might die otherwise. Self preservation is wired in pretty deep.
Posted by Phinetle Cromotch8064 2006-11-18 14:49||   2006-11-18 14:49|| Front Page Top

#4 Simple fix: new federal law that prohibits a visa being issued to an American to travel to China for an organ transplant. If you're caught, you have to give the organ back.
Posted by Steve White">Steve White  2006-11-18 16:03||   2006-11-18 16:03|| Front Page Top

#5 It's probably worse: I wouldn't be at all surprised if the PRC arrests/executes political prisoners per recipient order - blood type, etc., etc.
Posted by mrp 2006-11-18 16:08||   2006-11-18 16:08|| Front Page Top

#6 Zenster:
Ware the LONG ARM of Gil Hamilton!
Posted by 3dc 2006-11-18 16:53||   2006-11-18 16:53|| Front Page Top

#7 Hey! It's a positive sign! They're admitting that they've got problems, too! Welcome aboard, China. Now maybe we can start getting something done.
Posted by gorb 2006-11-18 17:18||   2006-11-18 17:18|| Front Page Top

#8 WE-ll...Didn't our rematerialized alien HITLERY just tell (pronounce to) you that, "HEY! F---wad, Just so YOU KNOW...Health care is Back"! And, even if it takes International Harvester to reap your vital organs; it's gonna happen. Suck it up you f-ing losers!!! (at) asymmetrical triangulation
Posted by AT 2006-11-18 20:54||   2006-11-18 20:54|| Front Page Top

23:59 JosephMendiola
23:54 JosephMendiola
23:27 trailing wife
23:15 JosephMendiola
23:14 BA
22:55 BA
22:55 gorb
22:55 JosephMendiola
22:53 gorb
22:47 SteveS
22:39 KBK
22:34 JosephMendiola
22:34 Scooter McGruder
22:26 JosephMendiola
22:19 Mark Z
22:07 Iblis
21:46 RD
21:42 trailing wife
21:36 gorb
21:32 Steve White
21:31 trailing wife
21:16 Mick Dundee
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21:12 MU









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