Re-conceptualizing the organ trade: separating “trafficking” from “trade” and the implications for law and policy

The trade in human organs is considered a major international concern. In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that approximately 6000 kidney transplants are performed illegally each year. More recently, the Council of Europe declared that organ trade constitutes a “major threat to public health” and that it is growing worldwide due to the “greed of unscrupulous traffickers”. [...]