Declaration of Istanbul
Organ transplantation is one of the life-saving medical breakthroughs of the 20th century.
Over the years, growing renal transplant waiting lists and a discrepancy in organ supply and demand have marred this accomplishment and given rise to a network of illegal traffickers who exploit the vulnerability of patients desperately waiting for a life-saving transplant.
While illegal transplantation may seem like a “win-win” for the recipient in need of a kidney and a donor in need of money, the long-term effects are devastating to both parties and negatively impacts healthcare systems.
The Declaration of Istanbul (DoI) calls on the medical community, especially transplant surgeons and nephrologists, to join the World Health Organization (WHO) in putting pressure on Health Ministries with a transplantation program to eliminate organ trafficking and transplant tourism. The DoI is promoted, implemented, and upheld by the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG). Read more about ISN’s work on the Declaration of Istanbul here.
News
Safer transplants for all
The last seven years have seen The Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG) guide and help governments as well as medical and patient communities in response to illegal organ trafficking. Organ transplantation is one of the life-saving medical break- throughs of the 20th century. However, vulnerable people in poor regions have become victim of illegal...
DICG heads to kidney transplantation talks in Croatia
Representatives from the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG) took part in meetings with representatives from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia as well as Serbia organized by at the Croatian Ministry of Health in Zagreb, Croatia from October 14 to 15, 2014. A Federal Center for Transplantation within the Ministry of Health in...
DICG meets Pope Francis
On September 19, 2014, representatives from the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG) met with Pope Francis in the Vatican City. This private audience was arranged by the Mayor of Rome to derive support for the principles of the Declaration of Istanbul (DOI). DICG has been invited to submit a reference document that Pope Francis will use in...
DOI principles on ethical organ donation continue to be upheld by DICG
As a collaborative effort between ISN and The Transplant Society (TTS), the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG) has been active in many arenas since the Declaration of Istanbul was first promulgated. DICG was established in 2008 to promote the Principles and Proposals of the Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism (DOI)....