Big Donor Show - how low can TV go?

kitten_caboodle · 29 May 2007 at 18:26

The Big Donor Show

You'd not think they could go so low would you?

A SHOW by Big Brother makers Endemol which will see a terminally ill Dutch woman select a recipient for one of her kidneys was branded "totally abhorrent", "cynical" and "a travesty" today.

Zip · 29 May 2007 at 18:29

At least shes donating which is more then a lot of people tbh

Magister · 29 May 2007 at 18:30

Jesus Christ. :/

millsy888 · 29 May 2007 at 18:35

i heard this on the radio earlier, i'm shocked that this has been allowed. How gutted will the people that dont win.

in all honesty, i think organ donation on death should be made compulsary.

Glaucus · 29 May 2007 at 18:36

so a women, which would have to wait years, gets a donation for doing a tv show. what's wrong with that. How about if a dying person needed exspensive drugs to live and where they lived had no national health service and they went on something like who wants to be a millionaire.

Shicky · 29 May 2007 at 18:39

considering recent kidney trouble me gots to get on that show!

iCraig · 29 May 2007 at 18:43

Anything for the ratings. It's disgusting and pathetic how low some show makers are prepared to go to make money.

Felix E · 29 May 2007 at 19:08

The idea that organ donations should or even could be based on a popularity contest is disgusting in my opinion.

Yes it's great that the ill woman is donating her organ so that hopefully someone else can live, but the manner in which it's happening is appaling. The other two people may be effectively condemned to death by not winning enough votes, how are they going to feel? Hows the person who wins going to feel knowing that they only lived at the expense of the other two? I'd imagine even the people that phone in and vote may feel pretty bad when they hear that one of the one's they didn't vote for has died.

Reality TV has gone too far

Gerard · 29 May 2007 at 19:10

Reality tv really is getting completly boring, seems these days they go for shock value more than anything to attempt to get good ratings.

Glaucus · 29 May 2007 at 19:11

Felix E said:
The idea that organ donations should or even could be based on a popularity contest is disgusting in my opinion.

Yes it's great that the ill woman is donating her organ so that hopefully someone else can live, but the manner in which it's happening is appaling. The other two people may be effectively condemned to death by not winning enough votes, how are they going to feel? Hows the person who wins going to feel knowing that they only lived at the expense of the other two? I'd imagine even the people that phone in and vote may feel pretty bad when they hear that one of the one's they didn't vote for has died.

Reality TV has gone too far

you aren't signing them to death are you..
! gets an organ the others will have to stay on the waiting list and may not get an organ in time. The good out weighs any evil in my mind.

Sounds like a boring show and I wouldn't watch it but at the end of the day they are paying for and secured an organ that is going to save someones life, which she might not off ever got on a waiting list.

Felix E · 29 May 2007 at 19:14

Seems like I was a bit off of the mark, I though there was some sort of vote to say who get's it, but according the beeb:

"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. "

So it's only one show and the choice is made by the donor. However I still don't think it's a good idea as it sensationalises the process and I don't think it will reflect the reality of these situations.

This was interesting to me:

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."

PikeyPriest · 29 May 2007 at 19:15

I`m guessing the people who dont win will remain on dialysis until they get one through the normal register.

Maybe im being slightly harsh, but i dont think there is that much wrong with the show. I could deciede to give a kidney to close friends and family completely skipping the waiting-list anyway.

Efour · 29 May 2007 at 19:48

read the back story theres loads to it.

It is bizzar(sp?) TV but it makes sense and brings attention to the issues

Mark A · 29 May 2007 at 19:54

Its bad enough when people go on a game show and come away empty handed but this is taking the ****.