Bill > AR12

This Resolution denounces the practice of organ harvesting from individuals who have not given their consent, specifically targeting Falun Gong practitioners and political prisoners within the People's Republic of China (PRC). The resolution highlights that while organ transplantation is a medical miracle when conducted ethically, credible reports suggest that in the PRC, a significant portion of organs used in transplants are unaccounted for and may come from prisoners of conscience who are killed for their organs. This practice, which reportedly began in 1984 with regulations concerning the use of organs from executed criminals, has been a concern for decades, with former officials indicating a high reliance on organs from executed prisoners. The resolution emphasizes that voluntary and informed consent is a fundamental ethical requirement for organ donation, which prisoners, often imprisoned for their beliefs, cannot provide. Falun Gong practitioners, a spiritual group emphasizing truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, are identified as the primary victims of this organ harvesting since the early 2000s, following a nationwide campaign by the PRC government to suppress the movement. The resolution also notes that other groups, including ethnic minorities like Uyghurs and political dissidents, may also be targeted. Ultimately, this resolution condemns the killing of prisoners for organ harvesting as a violation of medical ethics and human rights, and it directs that copies of the resolution be sent to relevant US and Chinese government officials.