Organized Crime in Action: Trafficking of Human Cells, Tissues and Embryos in Romania
Organized Crime in Action: Trafficking of Human Cells, Tissues and Embryos in Romania

Summary/Abstract: In the context of impetuous debates on bioethical issues arising from biomedical and genetics research lines, the lack or inadequacy of national legislation to scientific reserch in the field of biogenetics facilitates the activity of organized crime. Organised crime detects new sources of income that can be obtained the easy way by harvesting surcharge of human cells, tissues or organs, by trafficking of human embryos, by selling such products to interested persons which can use them at their own will, for medical curative, research or industrial purposes. In Romania there have been developed true recruiting networks of "donors" under the cover of the apparent legal specialized clinics in the country's major cities. Three of them have already been discovered and dismantled by Romanian judicial authorities’s efforts. In this context, close international cooperation is needed in order to enable the identification of the modus operandi and the ramifications of criminal organizations. The Romanian state’s judicial policy adjustment should be complemented by a review of legislative penal policy leading to the adoption of a strict prohobitive legislation regarding the traffic of oocytes and embryos and the medical techniques to provide them.

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