Transplant organs used for gameshow

The creators of Big Brother, Endemol, have decided to launch a new gameshow on Dutch televison channel BNN where a terminally ill patient gets to choose which contestants will recieve her organs for transplant.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6699847.stm

The creators of the show have argued that it isn't simply a macabre excuse for snuff televison, but a chance to raise awareness of the shortage of transplant organs:

Predictably, the show has been met with widespread criticism...

Personally, I think more effort needs to be put into stem cell research to produce transplant organs, rather than creating horrifyingly macabre gameshows. But by presenting the desperation of the contestants on the show, is it possible that it will encourage more people to donate? Or is it just overly emotive and exploitative?

My boss who will need a kidnay transplant in about a year thought it was quite amusing

How can I be the only one OMG-ing over this? Its transplant organs! On a gameshow!

Does no-one else see the '' factor of this?

The use of "gameshow" is just inflammatory. Unless they are using trivia or a big spinning wheel, this is closer to a realty show. While the description of a show "Which documents how a terminally ill woman makes the impossible choice who whose life to save" is more accurate, it's much less likely to whip people into a furor, which is, ultimately, what we all want, isn't it?

I see your point, but posthumus organ donation - unless its to a friend or family member - is normally an anonymous process conducted on a much more objective basis by doctors. To film a woman deciding to give it to one of three contestants certainly has an air of the 'morbid gameshow' about it.

I'm not saying I'm against it, but I don't think the term gameshow is really innacurate. Most of the news stations over here are calling it that, and I've heard the producers themselves use the term. Still, call it a reality show if you want, I really don't mind.

I think a main reason people have a problem with this programme is because they don't like facing their issues with mortality. But still, you've got to admit it is a radical concept that could spawn a new genre of 'death television'.

I would have bet my paycheck that the Japanese were behind this.

It seems to me that the contestants who lose will walk away not only without the organ, but with a sense of they weren't 'good enough' to get one. Not being on a list at the right time is one thing, but actively saying 'you aren't getting this because someone CHOSE someone over you' is kind of sad to me.

Even money says some DIY dude from Canada will be spinning the wheel with high hopes for a heart.

I love how they try and make this out to be noble and about raising awareness rather than about ratings. Like Big Brother is a social experiment rather than an excuse to laugh at freaks

I hadn't thought of it that way before... you're right, it does suck.
But I guess the question is whether the extra publicity for the organ donor cause is worth the trauma caused to the two losing contestants?

Entirely agreed. Being on a waiting list for an organ must be hard enough already, with all the 'you may get a chance this week' and then nothing. Being assigned something like this on what strikes me as a popularity contest is cringe-worthy.

Edited to add:
How likely is it that the organ will actually take? Aren't recipients usually chosen on how compatible they are with the donor? I'm willing to be corrected on this, because I don't know.

I'm guessing that the 'contestants' are already matched with the donor, and are equally capable of receiving the organ. From there it is up to the donor to decide.