Australians caught up in 'Dr. Horror' kidney racket tells that an Indian medic was peddling kidneys from poor laborers. Perhaps 400-500 kidney transplants were performed by Amit Kumar and his collaborators. Making the story worse, Kumar is not a physician - he learned how to transplant kidneys by 'associating' with surgeons.
Although the donor 'price' is about $1500 - $2500, many have claimed their organs were stolen after they were drugged. Indian kidney recipients paid up to $45,000 for the transplants, and international customers from America and Australia paid much more.
Kidney transplant market thrives in Delhi tells there is an Indian law prohibiting the sale of organs. The law is circumscribed by the donor signing a statement that the patient is a relative. At most hospitals, there are 'middlemen' who learn of someone' need for an organ transplant. They will arrange for a donor organ. The kidney may sell for $4,500, but the recipient must be prepared to pay $250 a month for anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their life. A donated organ can survive up to ten years within the patient.
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