Bootcongres

Background In 2012 the European Commission awarded ‘The HOTT Project’: an international research project against trafficking in human beings for the purpose of organ removal (THBOR). This project aims to generate more knowledge and awareness about this crime. The project’s first report, a large literature review, fulfils this objective by describing existing information on the incidence and nature of THBOR, in particular the persons involved. Our sub-study focused on the role of recipients. By conducting a systematic literature review we aimed to identify the nature and extent of patients’ involvement in a) travel for transplantation, b) purchasing organ (transplants) and c) THBOR. Methods We searched EbscoHost databases, Library of Congress Catalog, OAIster, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase Medline. The methodology and results of this systematic literature review are in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All English studies published in full text after 1 January 2000 were included. Presentations, abstracts, opinion papers, non-English records and publications lacking methodology were excluded. Results We identified 64 records about patients who travel for transplantation. The most common destination countries are India, China and Pakistan. 23 studies state that patients paid for the organ (transplantation). In addition, we found 5 records about patients who bought organs domestically. 13 articles present the amount. Patients make payments to “donors”, brokers, hospitals, unidentified “companies” and doctors. The most common form of organ purchase is through a “transplant package”. Websites offering transplant packages seem to play an important role in facilitating transplants abroad. However the extent to which they are used by recipients remains unknown. Two studies mention the involvement of patients in the exploitation of their donors (THBOR). There was one police investigation of a patient for THBOR and one prosecution of a patient who purchased an organ. Conclusion One third of articles that identify patients who travel overseas for transplants recognize patients who purchase organs. Much less identify patients who are involved in THBOR. The literature is an inadequate source to describe the nature and extent of patients’ involvement in transplant crimes. Ethnographic research and/or in-depth case studies is required to collect reliable and verifiable data.