BEIJING – A teenage high-school student in China sold his kidney for an illicit transplant operation and used the proceeds to buy an Apple iPhone and iPad, state press said on Friday.
The 17-year-old boy, who was paid $3,500, was recruited from an online chat room and is now suffering from kidney failure and in deteriorating health, the Xinhua news agency said.
A surgeon and four others have been arrested and are facing charges of illegal organ trading and intentional injury.
The kidney donor, only identified by his surname Wang, agreed to the April 2011 operation in the central province of Hunan without his parents' consent, the report said.
One of those detained was a hard-up gambler identified as He Wei, who acted as a middle-man between a hospital worker and the teenager.
Health ministry statistics show that about 1.5 million people in China need transplants, but only around 10,000 transplants are performed annually.
The huge gap has led to a thriving illegal market for organs.
Antisemitism Exposed
Fox News' Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world."
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.