BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

China organ harvesting scandal

A Chinese doctor has given a chilling account to the United States Congress of how organs are removed from executed prisoners, for sale to transplant patients.

The doctor, Wang Guoqi, said he would remove skin and corneas from the bodies.

He said sometimes doctors took organs from bodies while their hearts were still beating.

And he said he himself was tormented by the memory of how he started to remove the skin from one prisoner who was still alive.

Dr Wang said the practice netted huge profits for the Chinese army.

The Chinese Government says organ harvesting is illegal, but the United States says enforcement is woefully inadequate.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service