02/11/2008, 00.00
NEPAL-INDIA
Send to a friend

Doctor suspected of organ trafficking: "it is not a crime" to sell a kidney

by Kalpit Parajuli
The Indian doctor, believed to be the "mastermind" of an international organ trafficking ring, admits to more than 3,000 kidney transplants. But he says this was only the "selling" of organs by poor Indians to rich foreigners. He allegedly bought kidneys for about 2,000 dollars, and sold them for 20,000.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - The investigations continue into the worldwide ramifications of the organ transplant racket allegedly created by Indian doctor Amit Kumar Ravat, arrested in Nepal and deported to India days ago.

According to Nepalese police sources, Amit sold kidneys for 400,000-800,000 rupees (10,000-20,000 dollars), while he paid 75,000-100,000 rupees (1,900-2,500 dollars) for them.  He is thought to be the mastermind of a racket that has been at work for years in many countries.  He came to Nepal on December 30, travelling from Canada through Abu Dhabi.  It seems that he wanted to set up one of his clinics in Nepal.

He is thought to have admitted to police to having carried out more than 3,000 transplants, but he denied doing this "for money", as well as denying that he did this in regions where it is a crime.  He also confirmed that he took organs only from consenting donors, although he did give them money.

"The donors were poor Indians", he says, "the recipients, rich foreigners. I was their go-between, I served them. I took some money for the service but that's not a crime either." "I am a doctor by profession", "doing kidney transplants is my main business".

There is controversy in India because his clinic in Gurgaon, in the state of Haryana, was open and functioning for 15 years, without any intervention by the authorities.  Only in January, after being called by a victim, did the police intervene at the clinic and arrest four persons.  Indian law prohibits the donation of kidneys by a living person, unless the donor is a relative or spouse, or unless the two families agree to "an exchange".

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
India on the trail of doctor at head of kidney traffic ring
01/02/2008
Indian doctor who trafficked human organs arrested in Nepal
08/02/2008
Oppressed by poverty, 3,000 Filipinos sell their organs
09/02/2007
"We are optimistic," says Paul Bhatti as Rimsha Masih's bail hearing postponed to Friday
03/09/2012
Vietnamese poor sell kidneys to rich Chinese
12/05/2008


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”