Netherlands Game Show Will Decide Who Gets Woman's Kidneys

A new game show scheduled to air Friday night has stirred quite a controversy in Europe. The BBC reported Tuesday that The Big Donor Show will allow a terminally ill woman to choose who should get her kidneys.

Needless to say, the protests are coming from all directions. BNN, the broadcaster is not backing down. They say the program will go on as planned, according to the BBC.

Joop Atsma, of the Christian Democrat Party, told the BBC,"It's a crazy idea. It can't be possible that, in the Netherlands, people vote about who's getting a kidney."

BNN says that it will bring home the message of how much of a shortage there is for donated organs. Political parties have called for the cancellation of the show, reported the BBC.

"Lisa", the organ donor, will be able to base her decision on three patients' history and profile. She will be given the opportunity to speak with the potential recipient's family and friends. The 80 minute show will also allow viewers to text in their recommendations and suggestions.

In a quote from Professor John Feehally, former president of president of the UK's Renal Association said that "the show will not further understanding of transplants. Instead it will cause confusion and anxiety," according to the BBC.

Feehally told the BBC that in normal situations, there would be two benefactors, one for each kidney.

A further quote by the BBC has Professor Feehally saying,"If organs become available after someone dies, health professionals with access to detailed information about those waiting for a transplant make objective decisions about who should receive those particular kidneys."

According to the BBC, the former director of BNN died of kidney failure. Bart de Graaf was only 35. For many years, he had been on the waiting list for a kidney donor.

The current director, Laurens Drillich, claims the chances for a contestant on the show is 33%. Much higher than being on a waiting list. The BBC reported him as saying that the show will be "... acting in a shocking way to bring attention to this problem."

Alexander Pechtold of D-66, the Dutch social liberal party agrees. "For years and years we have had problems in the Netherlands with organ donations and especially kidney donations," Pechtold said.

UK television critics expressed horror to the new game show. According to the BBC, the critics said a show like this would never make it to the UK.

BBC reported Julia Raeside of the Guardian newspaper as saying, "I don't think this is anything to do with reality TV. It's just a crazy idea that would never play out over here."

Source: BBC News, Outcry Over TV Kidney Competition