I think most of by now have heard of the New York couple who are divorcing and are battling over a kidney.
Most will (naturally) roll their eyes at the notion that an angry man will actually have the kidney he donated to this wife returned to him, because she allegedly cheated on him and they are now divorcing.
In public statements, the man seems genuinely devastated at both her alleged infidelity as well as the fact that she did this to him after he gave her one of his kidneys to save her life. He wants people to know the risks in donating a kidney, and he's right, there are very real and serious risks. He shakes his head in disbelief at how she could cheat on him after he did this for her; that he did this for love and risked it all.
He now counters that he either wants his kidney back - or it's worth - 1.5 million dollars. Obviously, people scoff at the notion that the kidney would be returned. I couldn't imagine a doctor actually agreeing to go along with this, nor the wife who is the recipient!
And what of the $1.5 million? Is this the value of a kidney? Who decides this and what are the criteria?
Buying and selling human organs is illegal in the United States, although donors in some states can be compensated for travel, expenses, lost time at work etc. The $1.5 million has been derived from calculating the possible risks the man may encounter, from having only one kidney.
So should he be compensated? He agreed that while he wanted to save his wife's life, he also felt it would "turn the marriage around" because his marriage was troubled. But obviously it didn't work.
There is little doubt that this entire public drama will play itself out and the man will receive neither his kidney, nor the $1.5 million. He did "donate" it, after all. We can't turn a donation into a loan, once the relationship fails.
For more information on organ donation, click here: http://www.organdonor.gov
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What do you make of this very unusual case? Do you think this man has a case, or do you think the couple needs to simply divorce and call it a day?
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This seems petty and childish.
If the wife is forced to return the kidney, who will pay for the procedure? What will happen to the wife's health as a result? Will she die as a result? I can't imagine that any judge or doctor would allow this to occur.
I sympathize with the husband's pain, but being petty about this won't solve anything. He needs to just move on with his life. Living well will be the best revenge.
January 19, 2009 - 10:16amThis Comment
I heard about this story and it is devastating. The gentleman obviously is broken hearted about his wife's infidelity and certainly should not take the kidney back.
It is illegal to sell your organs and I certainly don't think he will not obtain any monetary gains from his generosity. It is what it is. We do things for love and always leave ourselves open to heartache and pain. It's reality, as painful as that might be.
January 17, 2009 - 9:59amThis Comment