A bill for a law to criminalise illegal organ harvest and transplantation yesterday scaled second reading in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Clause 33 of the bill, which spells out the offences and penalties for culprits, provides that a person who removes the organ of another for a reason other than for therapeutic purposes commits an offence and is liable for conviction to a term of 10 years without an option of fine.
Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services Olusola Sokunle noted that the bill was a legal framework to regulate the removal and transplant of organs, from either living or dead persons to patients suffering terminal organ failure.
Sokunle added that the bill would regulate the harvest and transplant of human organs to curb illegal trading of the organs.
According to him, the bill would also ensure persons suffering from organ failure have access to available organs, noting that it would also ensure standard medical procedure for human organ harvest and transplant is followed.
He said: “Part two of the bill deals with the creation of a department for the purpose of organ harvest and transplant in the Ministry of Health, which shall oversee the affairs of organ harvest and transplant in the state. This part also talks about the coordinator and other members of staff of the department. It spells out the formation of authorisation committee, function of the committee and state register for organ harvest and transplant.”
Gbolahon Yishawu (Eti-Osa II) said the bill would help stop organ trafficking and called the House attention to the couching of the regulations, which exempted the commissioner for health from following the regulations and approval law.
Yishawu added that clauses, which would shut out the House from investigating the activities, should be avoided.
“The way the bill is couched, there are lots of human rights issues therein. Although the bill falls under the Committee on Health, but I will suggest that the committee, which handles human rights, should also be involved,” Yishawu added.
Rotimi Olowo (Somolu I), who condemned the illegal act of harvesting organs for monetary gains, said the bill would end the act. He added that it will also protect minors and the mentally-ill.
Deputy Speaker Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun noted that the bill was all-encompassing and should be supported by members of the House.
Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade described the bill as a product of deep reflection on the part of the government. He added that the bill would improve the procedure and discourage the act of organ harvesting for financial gain.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, said the bill was a good thing waiting to happen to the state.
He added: “With this bill, those who illegally harvest organ for ritual purposes will face the full wrath of the law. The bill states the responsibilities of the donor and the recipient, and those that will be in charge. I give my total support to it.”
The bill was, however, committed to the House Committee on Health Services for public hearing and to report back in two weeks.
