Contestants Vie for Kidney on Dutch Reality TV

[Shazza]

My question is the same as Dingo's, how healthy are these kidneys going to be and will they help the sick who are vying for them.

Sounds like the TV channel are just trying to boost their ratings, at the expense of real people who are already at their lowest point in life. I find it absolutely insane, and there will be no happy ending.

 

[JanetElaine]

Something I suspected a little bit (pure BNN :slap: ): it was all a hoax to draw people's attention to the problem of not having enough organ donors. Well, they did get the world's attention....

As soon as I find a link in English I will post it (or someone else please go ahead).

 

[JanetElaine]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/01/europe/01hoax.php

Here's the English link.

It doesn't say too clear in this article, but the three 'contestants' really are suffering from kidney disease and awaiting transplants. They thought causing some controversy would be a great way to get some attention for their waiting.... and waiting.... and waiting.

You know what, I think they did a great job in getting what they wanted: publicity for the donor problem. They sure had everyone, literally all over the world, up in arms. I hope it was succesful, and a lot of people worldwide will sign up to become donors. This might actually be the first time I want to go :clap: for BNN!

Another link: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2007/06/01/tv-organ-donation.html

 

[michelle]

that's sick. and frankly - #@ck!d up.

I could not have said it any better. This is insane.

 

[JanetElaine]

I could not have said it any better. This is insane.

Did you read my updates?

 

[michelle]

Did you read my updates?

I just seen it, thanks.

 

[Tom'sGirl]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/01/europe/01hoax.php

Here's the English link.

It doesn't say too clear in this article, but the three 'contestants' really are suffering from kidney disease and awaiting transplants. They thought causing some controversy would be a great way to get some attention for their waiting.... and waiting.... and waiting.

You know what, I think they did a great job in getting what they wanted: publicity for the donor problem. They sure had everyone, literally all over the world, up in arms. I hope it was succesful, and a lot of people worldwide will sign up to become donors. This might actually be the first time I want to go :clap: for BNN!

Another link: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2007/06/01/tv-organ-donation.html

Kidney Transplant TV Show Is a Hoax
Last Updated:
06-01-07 at 4:00PM

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- A television show in which a woman would donate a kidney to a contestants was revealed as a hoax Friday, with presenters saying they were trying to pressure the government into reforming organ donation laws.

Shortly before the controversial program was to air, Patrick Lodiers of the "Big Donor Show" said the woman was not actually dying of a brain tumor and the entire exercise was intended to put pressure on the government and raise awareness of the need for organs.

The three prospective recipients were real patients in need of transplants and had been in on the hoax, the show said.


More @link:

http://tinyurl.com/yw64rs

 

[Shazza]

Kidney Transplant TV Show Is a Hoax
Last Updated:
06-01-07 at 4:00PM

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- A television show in which a woman would donate a kidney to a contestants was revealed as a hoax Friday, with presenters saying they were trying to pressure the government into reforming organ donation laws.

Shortly before the controversial program was to air, Patrick Lodiers of the "Big Donor Show" said the woman was not actually dying of a brain tumor and the entire exercise was intended to put pressure on the government and raise awareness of the need for organs. But in saying that if it has brought more attention to Organ donation, then a job well done, but couldn't they have made some commercials stating how desperate they are for organ donations instead of misleading everybody with the idea that a show was to air on TV.

The three prospective recipients were real patients in need of transplants and had been in on the hoax, the show said.


More @link:

http://tinyurl.com/yw64rs

Just heard this on our local news, am glad that there is no show, but what a terrible way to get the attention of the government. It has got a few posters a bit hot under the collar and I am one of them, to play around with peoples lives like that would have been totally unwarranted.

 

[JanetElaine]

Just heard this on our local news, am glad that there is no show, but what a terrible way to get the attention of the government. It has got a few posters a bit hot under the collar and I am one of them, to play around with peoples lives like that would have been totally unwarranted.

That is exactly what they wanted to do: show people what could happen if there won't be more people signing up as donors: 'do people really want to see receiving a transplant becoming a lottery, much like playing on a game show?'
And to show what actually is happening: peoples lives are being played around with because there aren't enough donors. People are dying from this. Awareness, not towards the government, but towards people to sign up as donors was needed.

And the effect: not even a full day after the show aired (at the end the truth was revealed): 18.000 people are already signing up to become donors. That's a lot on a population of 15 million.
http://www.nu.nl/news/1098854/50/18.000_mensen_downloaden_donorformulier.html
(Can't find an English link, the foreign media are very quiet now... instead of recognizing an awareness stunt they are annoyed they fell for it maybe?)