Donor Reality Show: Terminally ill patient is healthy actress

Harv · 02-06-2007, 10:47

Lisa, who pretended to be a terminally ill patient who would promise one of her kidneys to a person in an on-air game show, revealed Friday on the broadcast that she was an actress.

None of the three real kidney patients, who were portrayed as anxiously awaiting the game show results to see which one would receive a transplant, will receive a life-giving kidney.

The stunning turn of events contributed to the worldwide controversy stirred last week when BNN announced it would air a show in which a cancer patient would decide who of three kidney patients would receive her kidney.

At the end of the show aired Friday evening, presenter Patrick Lodiers told the viewers it had been a publicity stunt. Lisa was a 37-year-old actress named Leonie.

Moreover, the three kidney patients had been in on the hoax from the beginning.

Education and Media Minister Plasterk , who on Tuesday rejected the option of prohibiting the show, praised broadcasting company BNN for its 'intelligent and magnificent publicity stunt.'

Legislator Joop Atsma of the Christian Democrats however said 'even though fake, the show was unethical and tasteless'.

International journalists present at the studio in Almere characterized the show as expressing 'typically Dutch humour' and said 'only the Dutch can pull these kind of tricks'.

The show began with Lisa explaining her motivations to donate a kidney.

'I want to donate a kidney because I know the value of life now that I am terminally ill. I want to donate my kidney to someone of whom I know that he values life. I want to donate my kidney while I am still alive because it doubles the lifetime of the kidney.

'It feels very good that I can make someone happy. But I also regret that that I will have to reject two people.'

First, Lisa had to reject 22 of 25 candidates the show had previously collected for her, 'potential matches,' Lodiers said.

'Lisa' had decided recipients had to be younger than 50, non- smokers and employed ('people should do something with their lives') to qualify as one of her recipients. They also couldn't be too young ('young people still have more opportunities to get a transplant.')

Finally, she looked at people who 'appealed' to her and who had interests and hobbies she liked.

Next, the three patients were introduced.

Esther-Clair, 36, has been sick since she was five, previously had three transplants, all of which were rejected. Vincent, 19, was ill since he was nine, had two kidney transplants, but both organs were rejected. Charlotte, 29, ill since she was 15 years old, had received one kidney transplant which was rejected after a year.

After the presentation of each kidney patient, Lodiers asked the them questions and then allowed the public to vote on the most suitable candidate for Lisa's kidney.

Lisa: 'It's wonderful that viewers want to help me decide who should get the kidney. Please, continue sending me text messages.'

At the end, the final vote was made public, with Charlotte receiving 38 per cent of the votes, while Vincent and Esther-Clair both received 31 per cent of the votes.

Lisa: 'I want all of you to have my kidney. But I want to reject Esther-Clair because she has her life in order, she has everything, she needs it the least.

Two more were left, and just when Lisa was about to make her choice public, Lodiers disclosed the secret: it had all been a publicity stunt in order to raise public awareness about the shortage of willing donors. Lisa was an actress and the three people were real kidney patients, but had known from the beginning it was all a game.

At the end, all three patients said they were 'very happy' they participated in the show, which they called a 'success' because it put the issue of organ donation at the top of the Dutch and European agenda.

Lodiers called upon viewers to register as donors. He also urged legislators to confront the government this Tuesday in parliament and force it to do something about the donor-organ shortage in Holland.