Scans show 'illegal-organ-harvest victim' has two after all

The woman who fears she's the victim of body-part harvesters was probably born without all her second kidney, or lost it to organ atrophy, a hospital says.

Daily Xpress reported yesterday the woman discovered at a recent medical exam she had just 40-per-cent kidney function. A scan later revealed she had only one.

She suspects it was taken illegally when she underwent surgery to remove an uterine growth.

But, a Rajavithi Hospital computed-tomography scan suggests 43-year-old Kesorn Phoomcham was probably born with part of one kidney.

The Public Health Ministry's Medical Registration chief Dr Tara Chinakarn has looked at the scan and physical examination results and says the second kidney is there, but is only two centimetres in size.

Tiny kidney

It might be that the scan shows only a tiny kidney because examiners were unable to inject her with illumination solution. The woman's poor liver function prevents this.

The woman has no surgical scar in the area of the right kidney. The surgery to remove the uterine growth is nowhere near the right kidney.

Doctors believe now Kesorn was born with an undersized kidney or the organ atrophied though lack of use.

Kesorn complained to the Medical Council. It was sceptical about the organ-harvesting claims.

Council president Dr Somsak Lohlekha says Kesorn will be scanned again at another hospital as a precaution.

Organ-donor centre deputy director Dr Supaniti Niwasw-ongs says reports of the Kesorn case will affect organ donations. Stories of organ harvesting and theft will scare people.

Health Service Support chief Dr Suppachai Kunarattana-prueki warns that the illegal trade in human organs and body parts carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail.