Do No Harm: Mitigating Human Rights Risks in Transplantation Medicine
Eleanor Stephenson, BSc Hons, GDL, LPC | September 20 | 11:15 am-12:15 pm
Topic: Legal, Healthcare | Knowledge Level: Beginner
Organ trafficking, forced organ harvesting, and unethical organ transplantation is a global issue. A “world first” Legal Advisory Report and Policy Guidance, “Do No Harm: Mitigating Human Rights Risks when Interacting with International Medical Institutions & Professionals in Transplantation Medicine”, has recently been published in response to international calls to action. The Advisory explores the risks of international collaborations in transplant medicine, research and training, and the hard and soft law obligations that govern those partnerships. It highlights high risk countries such as China, provides practical advice for mitigating risks, and outlines circumstances where disengagement may be required. The Advisory provides advice and guidance to a range of stakeholders including hospitals, universities, professional societies, medical journals, independent professional bodies, medical schools, and associated medical professionals. This presentation will not only educate the audience about the real risk faced by medical institutions and their professionals of complicity in organ trafficking, but will also highlight the general complacency of the medical sector and what can be done about it. The session will also outline the legal remedies available to those impacted by the complicity of the medical sector. The audience will walk away with a deeper understanding of the global organ trade and an appreciation that compliance with business and human rights obligations within the medical transplantation sector is an effective way to tackle the issue.
Presentation Objectives:
· Educate the audience about global organ trafficking
· Describe a world first legal Advisory that shines a spotlight on western medical transplantation entities and the risk of complicity in unethical organ transplant practices
· Explain and demonstrate how compliance with the Advisory is an effective way to tackle global organ trafficking