Bootcongres

Background In 2012 the European Commission funded ‘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 the crime. The project’s first report, a large-scale literature review, fulfils this objective by describing existing information on the incidence and nature of THBOR, and by identifying the gaps in the literature. Methods We performed literature searches in EbscoHost, Library of Congress Catalog, OAIster, PubMed, Scopus, EthxWeb, GoogleScholar, Web of Science, Medline OvidSP and Cochrane. The searches were based on key words. Priority was given to scientific works that present data based on qualitative and/or quantitative study methods. Off-topic records not related to organ donation and transplantation were excluded, as well as non-English titles, presentations, records published before 1 January 2000 and newspaper articles. Results The report presents recipients, organ suppliers, brokers, transplant professionals and other facilitators as actors in the THBOR network. Brokers contribute most to the exploitation of suppliers by deception, force and coercion. It remains unclear how brokers transport recipients and suppliers, where they are accommodated and by whom. Suppliers are the victims. They are recruited, transported, harboured and/or received by facilitators, brokers, recipients, doctors who abuse their vulnerability. Suppliers receive low pay for their organ, or nothing at all. Recipients travel abroad for transplantation and pay for organ transplants. The most popular destinations are China, Pakistan and India. The literature is inconclusive however about whether these patients receive their organs through THBOR. Transplant professionals are involved in illegal transplant operations, but it is unknown whether they have been prosecuted. Other facilitators of THBOR are hospitals, service providers, translators and corrupt law enforcement officials. Conclusion We conclude that the existing literature is insufficient in providing information about the scale and true nature of THBOR. Empirical fieldwork seems to be a more appropriate source to gather information about the incidence and nature of THBOR and the role, modes of operation and degree of organization of the actors involved.