However, Zhang said the arguments between the two sides over legal procedures and qualifications hurt Xu Bao's feelings, and he decided to donate the corneas only.

"They only went for the legal procedures and uttered no words of praise for his benevolence. Their later argument also further reduced his enthusiasm," Zhang said.

Tang acknowledged that the Red Cross Society should reflect on its way of doing business after the incident.

"Our investigation confirmed that our staff went to the patient without any greetings or words of comfort. It is a lesson to be learned," he said.

In 2010, the China Red Cross Society was authorized by the Ministry of Health to build a national network that registers organ donations and distributes donated organs.

The organization could be given further responsibility to be in charge of the registration of organ donations and distribution of donated organs in the future, Huang Jiefu, former vice-minister of health, told the Beijing News in March.