Steak With That

Roll up, roll up for the latest in reality TV. The Big Donor Show. Brought to Dutch TV by those nice people who came up with Big Brother.

The concept of this is that a woman dying of an inoperable tumour can choose who is going to receive her kidney while she is still alive (after she has died her remaining organs will be divvied up as normal!). A lot of complaints about this being in very bad taste. I can understand why.

But, after getting over the shock and the surprise, I have to say "why not"? It is her kidney. Why not do what she wants with it? Yes, it is a stunt. The woman and the TV company are criticised for playing god. But then, after her death, other people would elect who to give her organs to anyway, so aren't they also playing god. Doctors are complaining it is unethical. But why? To give up your kidney (while you are still using it) is a great sacrifice for another. If it was someone giving their kidney for a member of their family then then would be lauded. Maybe this is a woman who sees her life about to be snuffed out and just wants to know she has done something for someone else first.