Recently, we saw in the news, the story of a boy selling his kidney in exchange for an Ipad and Iphone. Widespread practice among the desperately poor for many years: has it spread to the 'average' poor? What can be made of such an evolution? A singular case or prelude to what is coming?

TEXT: Christiaan Wöhle
PHOTO: Leondel

Previously, to survive, people were ready to do almost anything. Pushed to such extremes through intimidation and life-threatening poverty they sold pieces of their own bodies. This in itself was a regretful state of affairs, but which had its purpose: the unaided could help themselves to survive through the black market, even if it was for a limited time. Yet now it seems even those who have no such need are tempted, merely because they desire the toys of the more fortunate, to the extent that they agree to extremely dangerous operations to obtain them. There are of course worse things happening in the world, such as a mother letting her child die of starvation while playing World of Warcraft, and reasoning for selling an organ you need only one of is quite easy to come up with. Thus I turned my interest to an extraordinary tool for researching public opinion and mood: internet forums. And what surprises did await me.

The majority of the people I questioned (the number is 32 out of 50 if someone is wondering) were only shocked by the stupidity of the boy: selling it for a third of the local market price. Consequently they had no problem with the act itself, as one needs only one Kidney, and an Ipad is a “way cool” device. And whereas the remaining eighteen were at first outraged by the idea itself, with most of them I managed to submit hypothetical situations where they would consider doing likewise. Universal was the idea that somehow one should only 'donate' ones organs: be noble and rescue a friend or family member for free...sentiments I do not share, since it amounts to saying one doesn’t care about the death of others as long as one doesn’t know them (and preferably doesn’t see them). In all conversations the question came up: for what price would it be acceptable to you? Not surprisingly, women tended to ask much higher prices ranging from 20,000 euros to 100,000, men from 10,000 to 60,000 (keep in mind that this are us, the 'shallow' rich westerners). Another interesting observation: everyone, with one exception, most in favor of the legal selling of organs were atheists, those most against it religious and literalists. Which explains itself, but I never tire of seeing my views confirmed. Moreover, did this news give ideas to everyone of the possibility of doing the same? (but for a higher price) Yes it did!

Thus almost everyone I spoke with, even those who in principle were against it, ended up considering the boy stupid for accepting such a price, yet the act itself was more something to think about. And myself? I am one of the few who were way outside the average price range for men: for minimum 80,000 nett I would consider it, for 150,000 I would seriously do it. Why? Simply because such a sum would mean never having to work “hard” for the rest of my life, which is (to me) a fair deal, considering the risks of living with one kidney. And what would be your price?