Health Ministry Bans Sales of Human Organs

China's Health Ministry banned sales of human organs in an apparent attempt to clean up the country's lucrative but laxly regulated transplant business.

New regulations viewed on the Health Ministry's website forbid the buying and selling of organs and require that donors give written permission.

Human rights groups say many organs, including those transplanted into wealthy foreigners, come from executed prisoners who may not have given their permission, claims that China routinely denies.