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Outcry over TV kidney competition

2007-05-29

The Big Donor Show logo

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.

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 former director of TV station BNN died from kidney failure and spent years

on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.

"For years and years we have had problems in the Netherlands with organ

donations and especially kidney donations," said 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.

Posted: 2007444@795.42

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Fake

It was fake, the donor was an actor