Dutch to air organ donor reality show?

PCros

Slightly disturbing I think!?

A Dutch broadcaster is standing by its decision to air a reality show in which a terminally ill woman selects a recipient for her kidneys from three contestants.

Some parliaments members have called the programme, to be broadcast this week, 'wretched' and unethical.

On 'The Big Donor' this Friday, a 37-year-old woman will choose from three people with kidney problems.

AdvertisementHer choice will be 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.

'The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%. This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list. You would expect it to be better but it is worse," said BNN Chairman Laurens Drillich.

BNN says it wants to highlight the difficulties faced by kidney sufferers in getting donor organs as a tribute to BNN founder Bart de Graaff who died of kidney failure five years ago, despite several transplants.

Source RTE

Binomate

Sounds boring.

Tar.Aldarion

Yeah they were on about it on the radio earlier this morning. Meh.
'Serves to highlight need ofr organs' they said.

kizzyr

Its a horrible thing to do IMHO.

Robbo

Surely this is the kind of guff they only float to get publicity on this "You won't believe it, hohohoho" type of segments on asinine morning radio?

AlmightyCushion

PCros wrote:

BNN says it wants to highlight the difficulties faced by kidney sufferers in getting donor organs

No it's to make money. If this was going to lose them billions of euro they wouldn't do it. I hate it when they spread this PR bullsh!t.

kizzyr

AlmightyCushion wrote:

No it's to make money. If this was going to lose them billions of euro they wouldn't do it. I hate it when they spread this PR bullsh!t.

^^ exactly. I don't think the people behind BB are that altruistic and trying to raise the awareness of a lack of organs. Its all about viewing figures.

AlmightyCushion

kizzyr wrote:

I don't think the people behind BB are that altruistic and trying to raise the awareness of a lack of organs. Its all about viewing figures.

If it is all about helping organ donors then why don't they give all the profit to charities that help people on the organ donor list or fund scientific research that deals with this sort of thing. Then I would believe the sh!t they are spewing about this just being about trying to help people.

Exit

At first, I was sickened by this. But after thinking about it, what I believe will happen is that people will learn the stories of the 'contestants' and some people will phone in to offer their organs to the two losers on the show. It might not happen, but if it does then two people who might not necessarily have received an organ now will.

havana

Which is all well and good, but people's place on an organ donor list is based on need and how sick they are at a given time. It should not be decided on whether or not they were picked for a TV show or how much the viewing public likes them. This is not a game or a competition.

If the makers of this show really wanted to highlight the issue there are other ways to do it, especially with the millions I'm sure they are going to put into this.

This is a very personal issue to me, so maybe my views are coloured, but I find this quite unbelievable and a bit upsetting!

Slow Motion

Just one more reason not to watch TV except for the odd documentary and the news, how sad are people that they watch enough $hite that the producers think this will be a goer !

*Slow Mo returns to catalogueing his DVD collection*

Dord

Exit wrote:

At first, I was sickened by this. But after thinking about it, what I believe will happen is that people will learn the stories of the 'contestants' and some people will phone in to offer their organs to the two losers on the show. It might not happen, but if it does then two people who might not necessarily have received an organ now will.

I agree. It also might mean that more people will sign up as organ donors. Which would be better for everyone.

kizzyr

joe robot wrote:

I agree. It also might mean that more people will sign up as organ donors. Which would be better for everyone.

Signing up to be a donor means SFA if your next of kin decide not to allow the doctors to have your organs for transplantation. An organ donor card is not a legally binding document and only shows the intent of the person whose death is now close.

kizzyr

havana wrote:

Which is all well and good, but people's place on an organ donor list is based on need and how sick they are at a given time. It should not be decided on whether or not they were picked for a TV show or how much the viewing public likes them. This is not a game or a competition.

If the makers of this show really wanted to highlight the issue there are other ways to do it, especially with the millions I'm sure they are going to put into this.

This is a very personal issue to me, so maybe my views are coloured, but I find this quite unbelievable and a bit upsetting!

I agreee, it makes you wonder whats next, women auctioning off their eggs to the person who can win challange of the week:rolleyes:

timmywex

thw whole thing has been takin a step too far imo, it should be banned, its not right to have people competing for their lives on a show, just for fun, sure, but not for a life

Caliden

whoever is the hottest is going to win. its sad but true

watna

Did they have to find three contestants that are a match for the woman? Did they do all the tests to make sure beforehand? And if she's terminally ill can she not give two kidneys (as she will be dead) and thus two of the contestants can have a kidney. You only need one kidney to survive. I'm confused!

Actually, I don't know why I'm asking these questions,

a) it'll be in dutch
b) I wouldn't watch it if you paid me!

aidan_walsh

They should make a version where the transplant patient has to find a suitable doner, attempt to seduce them, drug them, and remove the kidney themselves. Only the successful survive!

Off to sell the rights to C4...

AlmightyCushion

aidan_walsh wrote:

They should make a version where the transplant patient has to find a suitable doner, attempt to seduce them, drug them, and remove the kidney themselves. Only the successful survive!

Off to sell the rights to C4...

You'll make millions ya b@stard. Note to self- blackmail aidan_walsh

Robbo

aidan_walsh wrote:

They should make a version where the transplant patient has to find a suitable doner

Surely the last thing someone with a dicky kidney needs is a kebab?

AlmightyCushion

Robbo wrote:

Surely the last thing someone with a dicky kidney needs is a kebab?

Well they obviously be out on the piss after finding out that they got a brand new kidney :rolleyes:

WindSock

I don't think I'd be arsed watching that tripe, but anything that highlights the need for organ doners into the living room of joe soap is hopefully beneficial. Pity thats how low things have to be stooped. Then next...Celebrity Organ Doners Jade Goody can donate one of her arses to Posh spice.

AlmightyCushion

boreds wrote:

I don't think I'd be arsed watching that tripe, but anything that highlights the need for organ doners into the living room of joe soap is hopefully beneficial. Pity thats how low things have to be stooped. Then next...Celebrity Organ Doners Jade Goody can donate one of her arses to Posh spice.

Or she could donate her brain to medical science.

Gingervitis

Doesn't matter, it's fake anyway, check out any reputable news source...

Still though, as a publicity stunt, will it work? Seems none of the organ donor centres in Holland supported it. Don't get me wrong, it's an issue that needs highlighting, but is this shock tactic the right way to do it?