UPDATE: See Dutch Kidney Contest Was a Hoax.
Original Post:
More bioethics than neuroethics, here's a story about an upcoming reality TV show in Holland where people in need of a kidney will compete for a donor organ:
Newspaper De Telegraaf said BNN would broadcast The Big Donorshow on Friday during which the 37-year-old woman will choose from three people with kidney problems.
She will make her choice based on the contestants' history, profile and conversations with their families and friends. Viewers will be able to send text messages advising her during the 80-minute show.
That premise is extremely disturbing. If you "win", you get what you need to stay alive. What if you don't?
I can't imagine that they go through with it.
Posted by: Alan | 05/29/2007 at 01:21 PM
If they "lose", they will go back on the Eurotransplant (www.eurotransplant.nl) waiting list like all others waiting for a transplant.
Posted by: Just another reader | 05/30/2007 at 08:06 AM
¿Trivialitation of a very serious stuff? Yes. Competition in transplantable organ donations is not the best option, not only as a degrading and humiliating TV show, but as policy as well.
Posted by: Anibal | 05/30/2007 at 11:15 AM