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Organ trade using social networks.
Waleed Alrogy1, Dunia Jawdat2, Muhannad Alsemari1
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Summary
This study investigated illegal organ trade on social media in Saudi Arabia, finding numerous advertisements from buyers and sellers. Findings highlight the need for stricter enforcement against illicit organ offerings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health
- Digital Forensics
Background:
- Organ transplantation is a vital treatment for organ failure, but organ shortages are a global challenge.
- The illegal human organ trade, involving the buying and selling of organs, is a serious criminal offense worldwide.
- Despite regulations, commercial transplantation and organ trafficking persist, necessitating monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze organ trade and offering advertisements on social media platforms within Saudi Arabia.
- To assess the prevalence and nature of organ trade activities conducted online.
- To inform strategies for detecting and preventing illegal organ trafficking.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of social media platforms (Twitter, Google Answers, Facebook) was conducted.
- The search utilized specific keywords related to organ sales and donation (e.g., 'kidney for sale', 'liver wanted').
- Data was collected over an eight-month period from June 2015 to February 2016.
Main Results:
- A total of 557 organ trade advertisements were identified.
- Advertisements were predominantly from recipients/buyers (70%) compared to donors/sellers (30%).
- Twitter hosted the majority of adverts (85%), followed by Google Answers (11%) and Facebook (4%).
Conclusions:
- Social media platforms are utilized for illegal organ trade activities in Saudi Arabia.
- The study underscores the global nature of organ trafficking and its presence in the region.
- Enhanced enforcement of existing regulations and professional guidelines is crucial for medical practitioners to detect and prevent organ trafficking.