- Joined
- Jan 13, 2004
- Messages
- 31,020
- Reaction score
- 10
Black market in organs uncovered
BBC Scotland journalist Paula MacKinnon uncovers a market for human organs in her attempt to donate one of her healthy kidneys to a stranger in a bid to save a life.
You may think I'm mad but I'm not - I actually think what I'm doing is very simple.
Paula MacKinnon had originally planned to donate a kidney to her mother
I am donating one of my kidneys to a stranger.
I don't need two.
I have researched it well and am convinced that I will not suffer health-wise.
I came to this decision after my mother had kidney failure - I started the process of donating to her but we were not compatible.
She has other health problems and doesn't want a transplant now anyway.
The tests started 10 months ago - a lot of them - blood tests, scans and being injected with dye, amongst many other things.
It's not been easy to be honest and sometimes I have asked myself what am I doing, but it all boils down to one thing.
My donation could change someone's life and it's really minimal in terms of effort from me.
I am in the final stages - it's up to the Human Tissue Authority to decide now and I still have to have an MR scan - basically to see how my kidney is 'plumbed' for retrieval by the surgeons.
Advertisement
Secret filming exposes the organ black market
I am a journalist and decided to make a programme about it because it would get people talking about organ donation - it's a subject which is very close to my heart now because it affects me so directly.
In my research I discovered some frankly shocking things.
There is a black market in kidneys here in the UK.
I secretly filmed people trying to sell me their kidneys, exploiting the vulnerability of someone who is desperate to help a family member.
They are also trying to exploit the very law that has changed to allow me to make a 'stranger donation'.
They wanted to fool the authorities - the first woman I met started with an asking price of £250,000, another man wanted the 'price of a Mercedes' - £60,000.
I met them in cafes across the UK and their actions were shocking.
They know they are doing something illegal and just don't seem to care.
I met with a man who was a 'transplant tourist', who paid £7,000 in Pakistan to buy a kidney.
I understand his desperation but I then travelled to India and met with the very people who are selling their kidneys.
Barbara Ryder donated her kidney to Andy Loudon
They have been butchered - their scars are huge and they have long-term health problems.
It did make me doubt my actions for a moment, but I realise that what I am doing is done with great care to me and does not involve money.
I trust the doctors and NHS staff - they would not do anything to harm me.
A lot of my friends and family are not keen about my plans - I guess they just care for my health - but I wouldn't do it if I thought it would suffer.
I met Barbara Ryder - she has done the same thing that I'm trying to do - it was great to meet her because we sing from the same hymn sheet.
She has no health problems and wants more people to do this.
Who knows - maybe one day it won't be so unusual. I hope so.
BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Black market in organs uncovered
I personally would not do that but I would donate one of my kidney to save my family's life.
What about you?
BBC Scotland journalist Paula MacKinnon uncovers a market for human organs in her attempt to donate one of her healthy kidneys to a stranger in a bid to save a life.
You may think I'm mad but I'm not - I actually think what I'm doing is very simple.
Paula MacKinnon had originally planned to donate a kidney to her mother
I am donating one of my kidneys to a stranger.
I don't need two.
I have researched it well and am convinced that I will not suffer health-wise.
I came to this decision after my mother had kidney failure - I started the process of donating to her but we were not compatible.
She has other health problems and doesn't want a transplant now anyway.
The tests started 10 months ago - a lot of them - blood tests, scans and being injected with dye, amongst many other things.
It's not been easy to be honest and sometimes I have asked myself what am I doing, but it all boils down to one thing.
My donation could change someone's life and it's really minimal in terms of effort from me.
I am in the final stages - it's up to the Human Tissue Authority to decide now and I still have to have an MR scan - basically to see how my kidney is 'plumbed' for retrieval by the surgeons.
Advertisement
Secret filming exposes the organ black market
I am a journalist and decided to make a programme about it because it would get people talking about organ donation - it's a subject which is very close to my heart now because it affects me so directly.
In my research I discovered some frankly shocking things.
There is a black market in kidneys here in the UK.
I secretly filmed people trying to sell me their kidneys, exploiting the vulnerability of someone who is desperate to help a family member.
They are also trying to exploit the very law that has changed to allow me to make a 'stranger donation'.
They wanted to fool the authorities - the first woman I met started with an asking price of £250,000, another man wanted the 'price of a Mercedes' - £60,000.
I met them in cafes across the UK and their actions were shocking.
They know they are doing something illegal and just don't seem to care.
I met with a man who was a 'transplant tourist', who paid £7,000 in Pakistan to buy a kidney.
I understand his desperation but I then travelled to India and met with the very people who are selling their kidneys.
Barbara Ryder donated her kidney to Andy Loudon
They have been butchered - their scars are huge and they have long-term health problems.
It did make me doubt my actions for a moment, but I realise that what I am doing is done with great care to me and does not involve money.
I trust the doctors and NHS staff - they would not do anything to harm me.
A lot of my friends and family are not keen about my plans - I guess they just care for my health - but I wouldn't do it if I thought it would suffer.
I met Barbara Ryder - she has done the same thing that I'm trying to do - it was great to meet her because we sing from the same hymn sheet.
She has no health problems and wants more people to do this.
Who knows - maybe one day it won't be so unusual. I hope so.
BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Black market in organs uncovered
I personally would not do that but I would donate one of my kidney to save my family's life.
What about you?