Outcry over TV kidney competition

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

A Dutch TV station says it will go ahead with a programme in which a terminally ill woman selects one of three patients to receive her kidneys.

Political parties have called for The Big Donor Show to be scrapped, but broadcaster BNN says it will highlight the country's shortage of organ donors.
...
The 37-year-old donor, identified only as Lisa, will make her choice based on the contestants' history, profile and conversation with their family and friends.

Viewers will also be able to send in their advice by text message during the 80-minute show.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6699847.stm

---

It appears, from the comments of Professor John Feehally, that the show proposes that both kidneys will go to one person - which seems a (criminal?) waste.

[jollyreaper2112]

1. stories like this are heartwarming

It lets me know that the destruction of culture and humanity isn't just America's fault.

[KittyWampus]

2. I remember before Realitiy TV got going in the US, there were stories about Japanese shows

and I thought at the time crazy-stupid shit like that would never fly here.

Apparently I am the optimist.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Frank Cannon]

3. No shit

It's like that old Twilight Zone episode said: people are alike all over.

[Miss Chybil]

12. People are alike all over.

:-)

[Mike Daniels]

6. Further proof that " Europe remains our cultural superior"

sarcasm...

[oldtime dfl_er]

5. It's all in the marketing

Possibly Endemol (the production company) has learned from Bushco that it's all in how you market your atrocity. They're stating that the show will highlight the lack of organ donors in that country, so it's doing a public good.


http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/2890095

[TrogL]

7. Anybody got a line on a couple of O-negative kidneys?

It's for my fiance.

[nedbal]

10. you need only one, get the fiance on the UNOS list

[Mz Pip]

8. Queen for a Day

Anyone here old enough to remember that show? I was a little kid back then but I remember all the tearful presentations on why contestant A deserved the washing machine over contestant B. Then there was the applause meter that determined the winner. I guess the loser went home to a pile of dirty laundry.

This is taking that to a truly macabre level. Geez, if I die I want someone to make use of what's still usable but I usre don't want to be the one to choose who that is. Creepy.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[nedbal]

9. My mom used to watch it , they were always crying when they got the refrigerator

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I remember that...

I think it either came on right before Art Linkletter or right after. I don't remember my mother ever watching the entire show.

[BlueIris]

13. ...egh.

Heard about this last night and think it's vile.

[rocktivity]

14. Doesn't there have to be some type of a match, or has that been done?

At any rate, let the three recipients REALLY compete for the kidney. Have them eat worms or spend a night on a deserted island or something--now, THAT'S entertainment!

THIS JUST IN: "The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%," said the station's current chairman..."This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list."
Well, that makes it all right, then! When you look at it that way, perhaps we ARE being a little too judgemental...

:eyes:
rocknation

[nedbal]

15. yes the basic match is blood type, then there is something called..

PRA - Panel Reactive Antibodies.

These days the rejection medication cocktail has improved such that as long there is a
compatible blood type match, the PRA match does not have to be as good as the old standards.

[sg_]

16. bttt... just after watching the show and it turned out to be a 'hoax'

in order to raise awareness for the lack of donor shortages.

At the start they talked about BNN's presenter Bart de Graaff who died in 2002 while waiting for a kidney transplant, they showed his story. Then they showed the terminally ill 'donor' and a story about her, then they made her choose down people who should not be nominated for the kidney. She eliminated people over 50, smokers and ones who didnt have a job - until she chose just three. They then showed like video diaries of the 3 people in need of a kidney.

The person 'donating' the kidney was actually an actress, but the three contestants knew that they would not get a kidney but they are in actual need of a kidney transplant, they took part in to help raise awareness. They sure raised enough awareness of it thats for sure!

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. Interesting

That thought had flitted across my mind, and then I thought "nah, they'd look too foolish". Has there been much media reaction yet?