Spare the donor and donee, leave them alone

A Beijing law worker saving a Shanghai girl's life not once but twice over the last two years by unselfishly donating her bone marrow and stem cells is a classic heart-warming story that the media wouldn't dare miss.

But there is one thing I find lacking in the story - precaution to guard the long established international practice guaran-teeing the privacy of the donor and the recipient, at least for one year after the transplant.

The privacy policy requires bone marrow donations to be anonymous for at least one year or two years in many countries in Europe. Donors and recipients may mutually meet afterwards, according to Wang Chun, director of the Blood Department of Shanghai No 1 People's Hospital, where Xiao Ying received her treatment. Otherwise, there are chances of disputes.