elmo_killer6 Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 [hide=Article]Outcry over TV kidney competition The show comes from Big Brother creators Endemol A Dutch TV station says it will go ahead with a programme in which a terminally ill woman selects one of three patients to receive her kidneys. Political parties have called for The Big Donor Show to be scrapped, but broadcaster BNN says it will highlight the country's shortage of organ donors. "It's a crazy idea," said Joop Atsma, of the ruling Christian Democrat Party. "It can't be possible that, in the Netherlands, people vote about who's getting a kidney," he told the BBC. The programme, from Big Brother creators Endemol, is due to be screened on Friday night. 'Totally unacceptable' Specialists in kidney transplants have condemned the programme The 37-year-old donor, identified only as Lisa, will make her choice based on the contestants' history, profile and conversation with their family and friends. Viewers will also be able to send in their advice by text message during the 80-minute show. The Dutch donor authority has condemned the show, as have kidney specialists in the UK. "The scenario portrayed in this programme is ethically totally unacceptable," said Professor John Feehally, who has just ended his term as president of the UK's Renal Association. "The show will not further understanding of transplants," he added. "Instead it will cause confusion and anxiety." HAVE YOUR SAY I thought organ recipients were chosen on who is the closest match, not who the donor likes the most Steve Davies, Romford, UK Send us your comments Professor Feehally also pointed out that, under normal circumstances, two people would benefit from a donor, each receiving one kidney. "The set up of the programme bears no relationship to the way decisions are made about transplants in the real world," he said. "Living donors can choose altruistically to give one of their kidneys - usually to a family member. "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." 'Shocking' BNN chairman Laurens Drillich has defended the show The former director of TV station BNN, Bart de Graaff, died from kidney failure aged 35 after spending years on a transplant waiting list. "The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%," said the station's current chairman, Laurens Drillich. "This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list." "We think that is disastrous, so we are acting in a shocking way to bring attention to this problem." "For years and years we have had problems in the Netherlands with organ donations and especially kidney donations," agreed Alexander Pechtold of D-66, the Dutch social liberal party. "You can have a discussion about if this is distasteful, but finally we have a public debate," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. TV critics in the UK have expressed horror at the programme, but said such a show would be unlikely in Britain. "My first reaction, probably everyone's reaction, is that this is as dangerously near as we've got to a TV programme playing God," said Julia Raeside of the Guardian newspaper. "People may live or die on the result of a game show. It's a step too far. "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." The outcry comes at a difficult time for production company Endemol, who were censured by Ofcom last week for their handling of the Celebrity Big Brother racism row. The Australian version of Big Brother has also drawn criticism for not telling a contestant that her father had died.[/hide] Link:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6699847.stm I think reality TV's gone a little too far. THis is just plain wierd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1_man_army Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Yeah it's a sad reflection of where society is headed when life and death becomes a tv show. It's not surprising though considering that it's Endemol that are producing this 'extravaganza.' I'm so glad that this sort of thing is illegal in the UK (under the Human Tissues Act). He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart,and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrOwez Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 At least one of them will be helped. It's 33% chance of them getting saved from the kidney on the show well higher than getting one in real life. A friend to all is a friend to none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1_man_army Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 At least one of them will be helped. It's 33% chance of them getting saved from the kidney on the show well higher than getting one in real life. You're missing the point though. By following regular proceedure somebody would have received the kidney's anyway. However, Endemol are exploiting a dying woman and turning life and death into a tv special in order to pusue profit (I'm sure the given a token sum to charity and to the womans family but they'll still profit). It's presenting the life and death of human being as a trivial form of entertainment - it's no more humane than the Roman Colloseum. He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart,and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrOwez Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 At least one of them will be helped. It's 33% chance of them getting saved from the kidney on the show well higher than getting one in real life. You're missing the point though. By following regular proceedure somebody would have received the kidney's anyway. The kidney waiting list is far too big than the donor list, people die everyday of waiting for a new kidney or other body parts. A friend to all is a friend to none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1_man_army Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 The kidney waiting list is far too big than the donor list, people die everyday of waiting for a new kidney or other body parts. Thats still besides the point. Somebody on the waiting list would have recieved the kidney(s). Just because the competitors are more likely to receive a kidney via this show does not make it a valid exercise in organ donation. I think it's a sorry state of affairs when a person in need of an organ is forced to jump through hoops and plead in order to get an organ on TV. Also I wonder how many other people in need of organs were rejected by this show because they didn't fit the criteria, what makes these three patients more valid than the others - I'm sure it'll be decided on how they'll come across on television. If anything this further devalues the organ donation service as this isn't going to help push down waiting lists and it may even serve to discourage potential donors in the long run by trivialising the whole process. He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart,and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigra00 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 *Shrug* I can only hope this makes way for "How many lions does it take to hunt and kill 10 PETA members - The Show!" The popularity of any given religion today depends on the victories of the wars they fought in the past. - Me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsdragon Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I'm sure the people selected don't need the kidney's as bad as some other people otherwise they'd be in a hospital and not on tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warri0r45 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 At least one of them will be helped. It's 33% chance of them getting saved from the kidney on the show well higher than getting one in real life. You're missing the point though. By following regular proceedure somebody would have received the kidney's anyway. However, Endemol are exploiting a dying woman and turning life and death into a tv special in order to pusue profit (I'm sure the given a token sum to charity and to the womans family but they'll still profit). It's presenting the life and death of human being as a trivial form of entertainment - it's no more humane than the Roman Colloseum. I'm with you on the fundamentals of it. Although, it has generated a ludicrous amount of publicity which has alerted the masses around the world to the often low donor rate. That dosen't excuse the demeaning nature of it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercifull Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I think its good that a lot of media attention has been brought up. Its all around the world now about the shortage of donors. But i don't believe that airing the show now will give anything more to the subject than has already been brought up. Mercifull <3 Suzi "We don't want players to be able to buy their way to success in RuneScape. If we let players start doing this, it devalues RuneScape for others. We feel your status in real-life shouldn't affect your ability to be successful in RuneScape" Jagex 01/04/01 - 02/03/12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamdan Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I think this is disgusting, they are profiting off dying people. Congratz morons, you've done the impossible: You have lowered the bar of reality TV even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transcript80 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 The founder of the network that broadcasts this show had a kidney disease. He died 5 years ago, but had a kidney transplant that lasted 2 years. Those were the best days of his "sick life" according to himself. I think it is on a moral edge to do this. The producing company (Endemol) also made "Big Brother" which caused a riot at the time as well. After the initial shock raored away in the Netherlands, loads of other countries bought this "morally wrong, wicked, demeaning" show, and made bazillions of it. Talking about hypocrisy. Still, I see this show as an attention magnet for the donor problem we have in the Netherlands. The minister of Health was invited to share his thoughts (as in "RANT about it") but the producers also said they wanted to know why there are still HUGE waiting lists for transplants, after decades of futile attempts to get rid of them. I think our minister wil be a "no-show"....*hypocrisy* Other data was removed when acoount got hacked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfilc23 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I personally don't see what the outcry is about. Why shouldn't she be allowed to decide who gets her organs? And if she wants someone else (i.e. - the viewing audience) to make the decision, so be it. Everyone involved is doing so voluntarily and I'm sure her family and the "contestants'" families will get paid decently for participating. Sure, the idea of making it into a reality show is bizarre, but I hardly think it's something to get so fired up about. Honestly, if the show bothers you, don't watch...it's not likely to affect you in any way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1_man_army Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I think its good that a lot of media attention has been brought up. Its all around the world now about the shortage of donors. But i don't believe that airing the show now will give anything more to the subject than has already been brought up. I'll concede that the show has brought alot of attention to the issue but I just find the fact that a media company is set to profit from such a terrible situation a little disturbing. He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart,and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assassin_696 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 No matter what the mutual benefits, this is taking the whole concept a little too far. "Da mihi castitatem et continentam, sed noli modo" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrOwez Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 It was all a hoax http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6714063.stm A friend to all is a friend to none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebelAssassin Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 It was all a hoax http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6714063.stm :lol: thats brilliant www.PETAkillsanimals.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
How2PK Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 I think this is disgusting, they are profiting off dying people. Congratz morons, you've done the impossible: You have lowered the bar of reality TV even more. If you'd knew the what kind of network it is you'd know they didn't do it to 'profit' from it. But yea, it was a hoax. Great one. :P Didn't expect it would make TIF. Signature by Maurice SendakWhen the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool, that's amore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assassin_696 Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Haha, that's actually very clever. :) "Da mihi castitatem et continentam, sed noli modo" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmo_killer6 Posted June 2, 2007 Author Share Posted June 2, 2007 Hmm, well that's nice. Tought it was going a little far but I guess that was just to bring up the necessary reaction to show the organ shortage in the world. It's a pretty good idea actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrington Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Hmm, they say it was a hoax, but I think they were just testing the water... find out just how much the puplic is willing to tolerate and watch. If it had been received better, it wouldn't have been a hoax after all... win/win. Guess they have their answer lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1_man_army Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Lmao I have to grudgingly applaud them for having the audacity to pull off such a hoax, it's been a great way to incite debate about organ donation. He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart,and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Necromagus Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 30.000 registration forms have been ordered since the show aired. Guess it takes a TV show to do what millions of euros wasted on pointless ad campaigns and half-measures can't. My Tip.It Times Articles (10 and counting) || The Varrock Library Author Index projectDo you dare to dream? - Part 19 added. || The Hospital (WIP) - New story!Necromagus looks like a viking ... with glasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transcript80 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 30.000 registration forms have been ordered since the show aired. Guess it takes a TV show to do what millions of euros wasted on pointless ad campaigns and half-measures can't. +1! Man, our government must feel silly right now.... They all condemned it, burnt it down, and now it appears to be a big (tasteless) jok! Other data was removed when acoount got hacked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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