"Reality TV Goes Too Far"

“Reality TV Goes Too Far”

That was the title of an e-mail sent to me by Michele Cagan who writes the “HSI On the Spot” blog. Michele came across a news item that really is hard to believe. Here’s her take on it

“Reality TV clogs up the airwaves, sporting such inspired themes as swapping wives and eating bugs. But a Dutch production company has taken bad taste to an almost unheard of level with their new program: Big Donor Show.

“The premise of the show is simple, and truly objectionable. Three dying contestants compete for a truly grand prize – a kidney from a terminally ill woman. That’s right. A woman with an inoperable brain tumor will decide which of three desperate transplant candidates gets one of her kidneys.

“Viewers get to vote on who they think should get the kidney, even though their pick won’t count at all. And they get to pay about $1.35 per text message to make their choices known, and add to the drama

“And if that’s not suspenseful enough, the donor doesn’t actually have to go through with the operation, even after she’s raised the hopes of someone whose hopes have almost run out.

“Here’s the part that surprises me the most: It’s not an American show.”

Shortly after receiving that e-mail from Michele, she sent along a news item with this title: “Kidney Transplant TV Show is a Hoax.” Apparently the producers of the show only mounted the program to raise awareness of the dilemmas faced by kidney patients who need transplants. They hope their stunt will pressure the government to reform organ donation laws.

The good news: The “donor” does not really have terminal brain cancer.

The bad news: The three contestants really are kidney patients waiting for transplants.

You can read more of Michele’s commentary about health and medical issues in her “HSI On the Spot” blog at this link: http://www.hsionline.com/redir/blog.html