Torsten Trey, MD, PhD

Torsten Trey, MD, PhD

Executive Director, Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH)

Dr. Torsten Trey is the founder and executive director of Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), a trailblazing, international, medical ethics advocacy organization. Under his leadership, DAFOH has received global recognition for its unwavering stance against unethical practices in organ transplantation, including being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016, 2017 and 2024, and honoured with the 2019 Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice.

Dr. Trey is a prolific writer and researcher. He co-authored the book State Organ Transplant Abuse in China with David Matas, Order of Canada recipient, and An Unprecedented Evil Persecution — A Genocide Against Goodness in Humankind with human rights lawyer Theresa Chu. In addition, he has contributed to 19 peer-reviewed articles published in leading medical journals, with his research being cited more than 350 times in academic and policy discussions.

As a key figure in raising awareness about the state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting in China, his contributions to the field of medical ethics and human rights are significant.

In 2014, Dr. Trey was featured in the award-winning documentary Human Harvest, which highlighted the global human rights issue of organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting. His advocacy efforts began in the summer of 2006, when he decided to change his medical career and dedicate his time on a pro bono basis to amplify information on unethical medical practices to reach more medical doctors.

For the past 18 years he has dedicated himself to promoting medical ethics, working tirelessly to expose and combat unethical practices within the global medical system, and inspiring people around the world.

Dr. Trey’s impact extends beyond the written word. He has delivered numerous lectures and presentations at high-level forums worldwide, including to Members of Parliament in Taiwan and before the Texas State House, where he provided critical testimony that contributed to the passage of the first Organ Harvesting Bill in the United States. His efforts also played a pivotal role in the passing of House Resolution 343 in 2016, which condemned forced organ harvesting practices in China. He also organized a World Summit on Combating & Preventing Forced Organ Harvesting with 39 speakers with over a million views.

Between 2012 and 2018, Dr. Trey led a global petition campaign that garnered over 3 million signatures, marking it as one of the largest grassroots movements submitted to the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UNHRC. This petition was part of his broader strategy to increase international pressure on governments to take action against forced organ harvesting in China.

In 2024, his multi-year efforts culminated in the successful passage of H.R. 4132 in the U.S. House of Representatives, a significant step in the fight for human rights and medical ethics.

Dr. Trey continues to be a leading voice in the global effort to combat forced organ harvesting, working alongside a dedicated network of advocates and organizations to ensure that medical practices are guided by ethical principles and respect for human dignity.

In addition to his pro bono work in medical ethics and human rights, Dr. Torsten Trey is a classical musician, proficient in both the piano and oboe. His musical journey has taken him as part of an orchestra to prestigious venues across four continents. With a deep appreciation for the transformative power of music, Dr. Trey uses his artistry not only to inspire but also to bring hope to individuals worldwide. Through both his medical advocacy and his musical endeavours, Dr. Trey seeks to uplift, inspire, and promote well-being in all its forms.