Bishops alarmed over possible lifting of ban on organ donation

The Catholic hierarchy voiced alarm Saturday over a reported plan by the Department of Health to "review" a ban on organ donation from non-related Filipino donors to foreigners. Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar asked President Benigno Aquino III to implement the rules and regulations on organ trafficking instead. Odchimar said he is optimistic he will get a favorable response to the issues he raised in a letter he sent to President Aquino, the CBCP news site reported Saturday. In his letter, Odchimar expressed concern on Health Secretary Enrique Ona’s statement hinting at the possibility of “amending, if not reversing, the country’s policy on organ transplantation." Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros, who chairs the CBCP Office on Bioethics, recommended that the CBCP make appropriate representations with President Aquino. He said the CBCP should remind Aquino to strictly implement the DOH Administrative Orders 2010-0018 and 2010-0019, as well as “The Implementing Rules and Regulations on Organ Trafficking" which took effect on June 21, 2009. The CBCP remains committed to protect the marginalized sectors of society from falling to organ trafficking. It noted Ona hinted at opposition to the total ban for foreigners to receive organs from living non-related Filipino donors. Also, it noted Ona expressed support for what he referred to as “gratuity packages" for possible donors. In 2008, the DOH issued a ban for foreigners’ access to organs from living non-related Filipino donors. The sanction was made to protect the marginalized Filipinos who are prone to abuses and exploitation, which were rampant before the ban. — LBG, GMANews.TV