You Bet Your Life: Dutch Reality Show Gives Away Kidney

Snuff reality television inches closer to reality in the Netherlands with The Big Donor Show, in which three "contestants" face off to receive a terminally ill woman's kidneys:

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 Dutch donor authority has condemned the show, as have kidney specialists in the UK.

"The scenario portrayed in this programme is ethically totally unacceptable," said Professor John Feehally, who has just ended his term as president of the UK's Renal Association.

You'll notice they are wisely soliciting the audience for "advice" instead of "votes" (a semantic quibble). Ultimately, in a country suffering from an organ donor drought, these three contestants could be playing for their lives. In a world where Jade Goody can be a celebrity, does anyone really want to bet their life on a popularity contest?

Outcry over TV kidney competition [BBC] (Thanks, Mark!)