No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsHealthCosta Rican lawmakers pass new organ donor bill in first-round vote

Costa Rican lawmakers pass new organ donor bill in first-round vote

The Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously approved in a first-round debate the Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Bill, which would regulate all activity related to the collection and use of organs in Costa Rica, including donation, extraction, preparation, transportation, distribution and transplantation.

Social Christian Unity Party lawmaker Gloria Bejarano highlighted the new legislation’s provisions to discourage organ trafficking, as the bill would prohibit any form of remuneration for a human body part.

The country’s Penal Code already provides prison sentences of up to 16 years for convicted organ traffickers, but a reform submitted by Broad Front Party lawmaker and former presidential candidate José María Villalta includes punishment for those found guilty of promoting or inducing people to donate their organs. Those who advertise organ donation also could face prison.

In recent years, local and international media outlets have reported on people who offer to sell their organs in newspaper classified sections at prices of up to several millions of colones.

Last October, police arrested several suspected organ traffickers, including three doctors. Also in 2013, the Mexican daily El Universal published a story claiming Costa Rica had become a top destination for individuals in need of an organ transplant.

New regulations also would include expedited protocols to prevent potential organs from being unusable due to excessive bureaucracy. And the bill would create a national registry of both donors and recipients, and set specific procedures for organ transportation.

The bill was voted on after its approval by the legislative Social Affairs Commission.

A second and final round of debate could take place on Thursday.

Trending Now

Why Costa Rica’s Northern Huetar Region Struggles Despite Its Riches

Costa Rica’s Northern Huetar Region, a sprawling area of 9,790 square kilometers, is home to over 437,000 people across districts like San Carlos, Upala,...

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil....

Assassinated in Exile: Roberto Samcam Laid to Rest in Costa Rica

To the cry of "justice," the remains of retired Nicaraguan Army Major Roberto Samcam, a staunch critic of the Daniel Ortega government who was...

Costa Rica Surf Film Festival Honors ‘Pura Vida Bodysurfing’ with Top Audience Award

Pura Vida Bodysurfing is an award-winning short film that strips surfing back to its essence—riding waves without a surfboard. Filmed across Costa Rica’s legendary...

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

Costa Rica’s Defense Frustrates Mexico in Hard-Fought Gold Cup Stalemate

La Sele faced off against Mexico in a tense, scoreless draw at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas during the final matchday of Group A...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica