South African Hospital Charged with Human Organ Trafficking to Israel

On Thursday, hospital officials and police said in a statement that a giant South African hospital chain and its chief executive had been charged with human organ trafficking.

Organs were supposedly exchanged between Israel, South Africa and Brazil police said. Netcares chief executive officer, Dr. Richard Friedland received a subpoena on Wednesday.

The case first came to light in 2003 when arrests were made in Brazil and South Africa. Investigators claim Brazilians were sent to South Africa, where their kidneys were extracted and used for transplants in Israeli patients.

Authorities believe the company Netcare performed more than 100 illegal kidney transplants between 2001 and 2002.

With such a high demand and small supply of kidneys, human organ trafficking is thriving throughout the world.

In India, poor laborers have been duped (and forced) into giving up kidneys, which were then sold to wealthy bidders in need of transplants.

"The Netcare board fully supports Dr Friedland and expresses its regret that the prosecuting authorities have seen fit to press charges against him and Netcare, particularly in view of the unqualified cooperation which Netcare and Dr. Friedland have given to the investigating and prosecuting authorities to assist in those investigations," said Netcare, the organization which operates the hospitals charged in the case.

Human Organ Trafficking ring busted

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