A Chinese burn doctor seeking asylum in the US told Congress harrowing tales Wednesday of his work removing the skin of nearly 100 executed prisoners for transplant.
Wang Guoqi's account added weight to widespread reports of involuntary organ donations.
He said he routinely jumped into action immediately after prisoners were executed. First, he cut off the ropes that bound their hands.
Then he removed their clothes before spending 10 minutes to 20 minutes on his real job -- carefully slicing off their skin.
China yesterday rejected allegations by the former army doctor that organs are systematically harvested from executed prisoners as "slander" and "sensational lies."
During his testimony, Wang told the House International Relations Committee's human rights panel that in October 1995 there was an execution that "has tortured my conscience to no end."
The prisoner in Hebei Province did not immediately die from the executioner's shot but was on the ground, convulsing, the 38-year-old doctor said.
Even after three other doctors "extracted his kidneys quickly and precisely," Wang said, the prisoner was still breathing, his heart still beating.
Wang and a fellow burn surgeon stayed to harvest the skin but ultimately fled, fearing that people outside the ambulance were the man's angry relatives, preparing to attack.
"It is with deep regret and remorse for my actions that I stand here today testifying against the practices of organ and tissue sales from death row prisoners," said Wang, who went to the US in April with a tour group.
Such organ harvesting is motivated by money, said human rights activist Harry Wu, imprisoned by China for 19 years.
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