RedWine
05-31-2007, 02:31 AM
Donor organisations, politicians and the medical world are in uproar over a new reality-show in Holland where the prize is a kidney.
Kidney questions
A Dutch TV-channel plans to launch "The Big Donor Show" on Friday. A terminally ill 37-year old cancer-patient who calls herself "Lisa" wants to donate her kidneys to one of three contestants aged 18-40 on a live television show. During the 80-minute show viewers can send Lisa an sms text message with their advice, and she will also discuss the three contestants' history and profile with her family and friends before making her final decision of who the lucky winner is.
Shortage of organs on the agenda
According to BBC, several Dutch political parties have unsuccessfully tried to stop the program, but it looks as if the show will be aired on Friday, as the ministers of Public Health and Media won't - or can't - ban the programme.
The Dutch broadcaster BNN argues that the programme will bring into focus the shortage of organ donors in Holland. This chock effect will highlight the ethical problem. Perhaps the fact that BNN's former director Bart de Graaf died at the age of 35 from renal failure after having waited for a new kidney for five years has had some influence on the programme.
Critique from different groups
Both Dutch and British donor organisation condemn the program and call it ethically unacceptable. Dr Gert Van Dijk from the Dutch Medical Association says about the show:
- We feel that it should be done in a fair way, which means that the people who wait the longest or who have the greatest medical urgency, should get the organs first and it's not a popularity contest. It shouldn't be that, who wins a certain game should get the organs.
The European Commission has also voiced criticism and questions the taste of making a reality show about such a serious issue.
Whatever the case, the controversy has achieved BNN's initial aim. The shortage of organ is being discussed at home, at school and on the job. And perhaps it will solve one problem, which is giving the winner a longer life.
Questions, questions and more questions
But can a show treat a complex ethical question in a satisfactory manner? Isn't the donor show creating more problems, than it's solving? There are many uncertain factors, for instance can one make exceptions to the rule that only donors who donate an organ while living are allowed to designate the recipient? According to the rules posthumous donations go according to a waiting list, so can the "winner" of the Donor Show be certain to receive her prize? Another factor is that organ donations from one person to another have to be a complete match for the transplantation to have a good chance of success. What if Lisa's kidneys don't match the winners? Who should then have the kidneys?
Do initiatives such as the program only reflect the shortage of lifesaving organs? Or do they also turn what should be an altruistic donation into a frivolous game? Are there limits to what transactions should be taken or done to receive body parts? And is this program a step towards organ trading?
When all is said and done, game shows always have winners and losers. Should dead serious ethical and scientific dilemmas be dealt with in a game? Or put another way, is allowing a game show to decide who might live or die going a step too far?
Is it philanthropy or a corruption of bonne moeurs-public morality? These are the questions that the Dutch are quibbling amongst themselves following a recent 80 minutes controversial Big Brother-like TV contest show, called “The Big Donorshow”, due to be screened on Friday night, in which a 37-years old terminally ill woman would be choosing one of three other patients to receive both of her kidneys, with the active participation of viewers. The Dutch broadcaster, BNN says the aim of the show is to raise awareness on the acute shortage of essential organ donors in the country.
According to the format of the contest as highlighted by BNN, the 37-years old donor, simply called Lisa would make her final decision partially based on advice from the TV viewers through text messages , and also on the contestants’ own profile and history. During broadcasts, Lisa who is sick with an inoperable brain tumour will listen to the contestants for her kidneys being interviewed, with each talking about her life, family and friends. Viewers will vote the outstanding candidates, which Lisa will take into consideration while making the final decision.
But the programme has left the whole country unease, with everyone now talking about it. It is admired and hated in equal measure. The chairman of BNN broadcaster, Laurens Drillich admitted in a statement that although BNN knew from the very onset that the programme was most likely going to spark controversy, their decision to air it was nevertheless the better of the two hard choices.
“We know that this programme is super controversial and some people will think it’s tasteless, but we think the reality is even more shocking and tasteless: waiting for an organ is just like playing the lottery,” Said Laurens Drillich.
“We think that is disastrous, so we are acting in a shocking way to bring attention to this problem.” He added.
All the major political parties in Holland, and prominent political figures have called the show to be taken off the air, but BNN broadcaster says she must exercise her right of freedom of expression.
“It’s a crazy idea. It can’t be possible that, in the Netherlands, people vote about who’s getting a kidney,” Joop Atsma, of the ruling Christian Democrat Party was quoted as saying by the BBC.
The Dutch Donor Authoprity also condemned the idea in a statement as misguided and unacceptable.
“This is a scandal, it is no better than selling organs. They are taking advantage of people in a desperate situation for entertainment.” It’s spokesperson, Reiner Hofmann, said in a statement.
Professor John Feehally of the UK’s Renal Association corroborated the Dutch Donor Authority, saying the only thing the show will achieve is to cause confusion and anxiety.
“The set up of the programme bears no relationship to the way decisions are made about transplants in the real world. Living donors can choose altruistically to give one of their kidneys - usually to a family member. ” Feehally remarked.
The matter has now been dragged to parliament for parliamentarians to debate on whether the show violates the law. While addressing parliament on Wednesday, The Dutch education minister, Ronald Plasterk unequivocally blasted the show thus:
“The information I have right now tells me that the programme is unfitting and unethical, especially due to the competitive element, but it’s up to programme makers to make their choices.”
The protagonists of the show nevertheless found a proponent in the person of Alexander Pechtold, of the Dutch social liberal party.
“For years and years we have had problems in the Netherlands with organ donations and especially kidney donations,” Pechtold was quoted by the media as saying. “You can have a discussion about if this is distasteful, but finally we have a public debate,”
The main inspiration behind the show, Endemol NV who also happens to be the creator of Big Brothers has vowed that Lisa must give away her kidneys before she dies. The main reason advanced for the show is that Lisa’s wish to donate her kidneys to a particular candidate “wouldn’t be valid anymore after her death”.
BNN is particularly vocal in favour of the show because she has been a serious victim of shortage of body hormones in Holland. It’s former TV staion manager, Bart de Graaff, 35, died years back from kidney failure, while waiting on the waiting list. It’s current chairman, Laurens Drillich says “The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%. This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list.”
Kidney questions
A Dutch TV-channel plans to launch "The Big Donor Show" on Friday. A terminally ill 37-year old cancer-patient who calls herself "Lisa" wants to donate her kidneys to one of three contestants aged 18-40 on a live television show. During the 80-minute show viewers can send Lisa an sms text message with their advice, and she will also discuss the three contestants' history and profile with her family and friends before making her final decision of who the lucky winner is.
Shortage of organs on the agenda
According to BBC, several Dutch political parties have unsuccessfully tried to stop the program, but it looks as if the show will be aired on Friday, as the ministers of Public Health and Media won't - or can't - ban the programme.
The Dutch broadcaster BNN argues that the programme will bring into focus the shortage of organ donors in Holland. This chock effect will highlight the ethical problem. Perhaps the fact that BNN's former director Bart de Graaf died at the age of 35 from renal failure after having waited for a new kidney for five years has had some influence on the programme.
Critique from different groups
Both Dutch and British donor organisation condemn the program and call it ethically unacceptable. Dr Gert Van Dijk from the Dutch Medical Association says about the show:
- We feel that it should be done in a fair way, which means that the people who wait the longest or who have the greatest medical urgency, should get the organs first and it's not a popularity contest. It shouldn't be that, who wins a certain game should get the organs.
The European Commission has also voiced criticism and questions the taste of making a reality show about such a serious issue.
Whatever the case, the controversy has achieved BNN's initial aim. The shortage of organ is being discussed at home, at school and on the job. And perhaps it will solve one problem, which is giving the winner a longer life.
Questions, questions and more questions
But can a show treat a complex ethical question in a satisfactory manner? Isn't the donor show creating more problems, than it's solving? There are many uncertain factors, for instance can one make exceptions to the rule that only donors who donate an organ while living are allowed to designate the recipient? According to the rules posthumous donations go according to a waiting list, so can the "winner" of the Donor Show be certain to receive her prize? Another factor is that organ donations from one person to another have to be a complete match for the transplantation to have a good chance of success. What if Lisa's kidneys don't match the winners? Who should then have the kidneys?
Do initiatives such as the program only reflect the shortage of lifesaving organs? Or do they also turn what should be an altruistic donation into a frivolous game? Are there limits to what transactions should be taken or done to receive body parts? And is this program a step towards organ trading?
When all is said and done, game shows always have winners and losers. Should dead serious ethical and scientific dilemmas be dealt with in a game? Or put another way, is allowing a game show to decide who might live or die going a step too far?
Is it philanthropy or a corruption of bonne moeurs-public morality? These are the questions that the Dutch are quibbling amongst themselves following a recent 80 minutes controversial Big Brother-like TV contest show, called “The Big Donorshow”, due to be screened on Friday night, in which a 37-years old terminally ill woman would be choosing one of three other patients to receive both of her kidneys, with the active participation of viewers. The Dutch broadcaster, BNN says the aim of the show is to raise awareness on the acute shortage of essential organ donors in the country.
According to the format of the contest as highlighted by BNN, the 37-years old donor, simply called Lisa would make her final decision partially based on advice from the TV viewers through text messages , and also on the contestants’ own profile and history. During broadcasts, Lisa who is sick with an inoperable brain tumour will listen to the contestants for her kidneys being interviewed, with each talking about her life, family and friends. Viewers will vote the outstanding candidates, which Lisa will take into consideration while making the final decision.
But the programme has left the whole country unease, with everyone now talking about it. It is admired and hated in equal measure. The chairman of BNN broadcaster, Laurens Drillich admitted in a statement that although BNN knew from the very onset that the programme was most likely going to spark controversy, their decision to air it was nevertheless the better of the two hard choices.
“We know that this programme is super controversial and some people will think it’s tasteless, but we think the reality is even more shocking and tasteless: waiting for an organ is just like playing the lottery,” Said Laurens Drillich.
“We think that is disastrous, so we are acting in a shocking way to bring attention to this problem.” He added.
All the major political parties in Holland, and prominent political figures have called the show to be taken off the air, but BNN broadcaster says she must exercise her right of freedom of expression.
“It’s a crazy idea. It can’t be possible that, in the Netherlands, people vote about who’s getting a kidney,” Joop Atsma, of the ruling Christian Democrat Party was quoted as saying by the BBC.
The Dutch Donor Authoprity also condemned the idea in a statement as misguided and unacceptable.
“This is a scandal, it is no better than selling organs. They are taking advantage of people in a desperate situation for entertainment.” It’s spokesperson, Reiner Hofmann, said in a statement.
Professor John Feehally of the UK’s Renal Association corroborated the Dutch Donor Authority, saying the only thing the show will achieve is to cause confusion and anxiety.
“The set up of the programme bears no relationship to the way decisions are made about transplants in the real world. Living donors can choose altruistically to give one of their kidneys - usually to a family member. ” Feehally remarked.
The matter has now been dragged to parliament for parliamentarians to debate on whether the show violates the law. While addressing parliament on Wednesday, The Dutch education minister, Ronald Plasterk unequivocally blasted the show thus:
“The information I have right now tells me that the programme is unfitting and unethical, especially due to the competitive element, but it’s up to programme makers to make their choices.”
The protagonists of the show nevertheless found a proponent in the person of Alexander Pechtold, of the Dutch social liberal party.
“For years and years we have had problems in the Netherlands with organ donations and especially kidney donations,” Pechtold was quoted by the media as saying. “You can have a discussion about if this is distasteful, but finally we have a public debate,”
The main inspiration behind the show, Endemol NV who also happens to be the creator of Big Brothers has vowed that Lisa must give away her kidneys before she dies. The main reason advanced for the show is that Lisa’s wish to donate her kidneys to a particular candidate “wouldn’t be valid anymore after her death”.
BNN is particularly vocal in favour of the show because she has been a serious victim of shortage of body hormones in Holland. It’s former TV staion manager, Bart de Graaff, 35, died years back from kidney failure, while waiting on the waiting list. It’s current chairman, Laurens Drillich says “The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%. This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list.”