EU wil strenge straffen voor patiënten die bij orgaantransplantaties gebruik maken van illegale orgaanhandel (en)

Plans to combat the illegal trade in human organs across the EU will be voted on today by the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The proposal would bring criminal charges against European patients who pay for organs from living donors in developing countries.

However, critics say that politicians should concentrate on improving the donor systems and making more organs available, as between 15% and 30% of transplant patients in Europe die waiting for an organ, the BBC said.

A report from the Council of Europe found that organ trafficking in countries such as Ukraine and Moldova appeared to be "extremely well organised and extremely mobile", involving networks of brokers, doctors and specialised nurses, the Independent said.

Under the proposals, medical staff assisting with any operation could also be prosecuted.

Robert Evans, UK Socialist MEP, who drew up the draft resolution on the prevention of trafficking in human organs and tissues, says that encouraging citizens to give their consent for use of their organs after death could make more organs available.

After the European Parliament's vote, this new law would have to be approved by EU national governments as well.