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Boy in China sells kidney to buy iPhone

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© 2012 AFP

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Oginome, STDs are often the gifts that give for a lifetime so in that case, I think it is on the same level. not to mention that some of them can cause death.

No, because these school girls didn't specifically sell their bodies for an STD, they sold their bodies for sex. Not on the same level as selling a vital organ.

I don't know about you but I knew what I was doing at 17 and wasn't greedy enough to be thinking of selling myself for anything. Nope. No sympathy. If anything, I feel for the parents who are probably wondering what they did wrong when it came to raising this 'kid".

No, tmarie, when I was 17, I didn't sell my kidney either, but doesn't mean I don't feel for the teen or don't want him to get better. What he did showed stupidity and unawareness, and maybe even despair if he felt so blase about selling a kidney just so he could get the latest Apple product to feel good about himself. Why are you just reserving sympathy for parents? You're always talking about the destructive effects of bad parenting, maybe his parents were negligent or actively abusive? And i don't get what the quotation marks around 'kid' are for, he was 16 when he had the operation.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

When you sign to donate your organs before you die They DON'T TELL you that they will charge to remove your organs and they will also charge to keep them somewhere So YEAH I WILL SAY NO I DON'T wish to donate a sh t Maybe is off topic but those things are not said when they ask u to donate And no I don't want my family to pay for that !

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Oginome, STDs are often the gifts that give for a lifetime so in that case, I think it is on the same level. not to mention that some of them can cause death.

I don't know about you but I knew what I was doing at 17 and wasn't greedy enough to be thinking of selling myself for anything. Nope. No sympathy. If anything, I feel for the parents who are probably wondering what they did wrong when it came to raising this 'kid".

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Shows to prove a fool and his body organs are soon parted!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I don't think I have ever stated that. That being said, I think I am. Just not towards greedy kids who are too dumb to think that perhaps selling body parts isn't worth it for Apple products.

No, I remember you said it before. The fact that a 16 year old thought that selling his kidney was a reasonable trade off for an iPhone, or else he knew and didn't care; it doesn't bode well either way. But for grown adults to throw the 'Darwin!' thing at a 17 year old currently in critical condition is hardly what I would call empathetic. You've admitted yourself that you don't feel empathy towards him.

Really? I would think that catching STDs that might make them sterile is a pretty big trade off for a new LV bag. Not to mention their self esteem issues.

Oh please, catching an STD while selling themselves for a LV bag, and feeling crap about themselves afterwards is of course terrible but not on the same level as someone selling an ORGAN to buy a silly Apple product.

Again - I hope he makes a recovery.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

For once, I totally agree with tmarie. The word 'desecrated' is a little harsh used above. I actually don't think it should remain a personal choice. I do, however realise that there may be religious implications involved in many cases, but for the majority of us, no. If we die in an accident, then the decision should be automatic, if the body part is usable, get it out quick and use it. Waiting lists are WAY too long for those that need replacement organs. Hey, if the hospital can get out what they need and the undertaker make me look me presentable for those that care about me after, go right ahead. I realise this is all off topic but looks like the mod is being lenient today.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I respect the rights equally of someone who wishes to be an organ donor, to someone who doesn't want their body desecrated post mortem. It's a personal choice that should remain a personal choice.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Madverts, but you're dead. You're not needing anything from your body - and as far as I know, dead people don't have "rights". Family of the dead, yes. Dead? Nope.

Simon, why wouldn't you want to give them away if they can help someone and you don't need them? Why bury everything when you could help a kid live? Seems rather selfish.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Surely, though, to retain the right to what happens to your body, You ought to make sure you don't commit a crime for which the penalty is the state can stop that body being alive? If the state has the right to string you up until you turn into meat, it has the right to use that meat in the most beneficial manner.

If it's acceptable for the state to kill citizens, then it's an odd squeamishness which requires it treats them nicely afterwards.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Well the thing is tmarie, some of us do not want to give our body parts away. God knows when I die my body is no good for anyone but nevertheless, even if there were some usable parts, I'd rather they were buried with me. I'm not sure what the sentiment is around it only that I don't want to be divided up when I go.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Because I reserve the right to do what I want with my body, even after I'm dead. I haven't even stated I wouldn't be an organ donor if you'd care to notice.

Inheritance (death) tax however.....

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why not madvents? You don't need them when you are buried or burned. Why not save a life? Give someone eye sight? Why be selfish and keep it all to yourself?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"Rather selfish not to use your parts if you're dead and not needing them."

It shouldn't be forced upon people period.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

That being said, I personally don't see the problem with using organs from those who were on death row. Save a life - not like they need the body parts. I think it should be an automatic thing when anyone dies - unless they are religious reasons or problems with illnesses and the like. Rather selfish not to use your parts if you're dead and not needing them.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I thought you said before you were empahetic tmarie? I don't think I have ever stated that. That being said, I think I am. Just not towards greedy kids who are too dumb to think that perhaps selling body parts isn't worth it for Apple products.

I think the Japanese school girls have slightly less at stake when they make their trade off, compared to those who sell their vital organs. Really? I would think that catching STDs that might make them sterile is a pretty big trade off for a new LV bag. Not to mention their self esteem issues.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

"Executed prisoners remain the main source of organs used in transplant operations"

Jesus.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is the equivalent of teenage Japanese school girls who prostitute themselves to middle age salarymen in order to buy designer bags.

I think the Japanese school girls have slightly less at stake when they make their trade off, compared to those who sell their vital organs.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is the equivalent of teenage Japanese school girls who prostitute themselves to middle age salarymen in order to buy designer bags.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I guess common sense is not so common.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

iPhone for a kidney, we still must be living in a golden age. It's only a short time away and organ robbery will become a worldwide business, controlled by crime syndicates. It is already, in some countries criminals in emergency ambulance cars hunt for victims, grab them into the car, perform a surgery without anesthetic and then throw them out the street and get off with the organs. Only in some countries, it is not worldwide, not yet.... Not mentioning the unnecessary causeless organ removal surgeries, amputations that is going in reputed hospitals to harvest and sell the organs to rich patients.

And in best hospitals they are selling and transplant any organs, the cancerous, the failed or the sick..whatever. So, you have died for your money? Prove it!! Good.

More than half of the transplanted organs are practically nonfunctional, anyhow, even at the time of harvesting, and those who accept them and let other people robbed for their body and those who accept organs carved out from the dead are just ghouls and the ugliest and worst evils and criminals and deserve they fate.

Christiaan Neethling Barnard had to be an evil man or the worst monster I have ever known as he opened the door to the most evil thing in the world. Well, I don't believe in demons and evils , I only used the world evil to describe his action.

Poor little boy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This kind of incident is nothing new in China. Young Chinese citizens selling their organs to buy expensive tech products has happened on several occasions. Kind of sad when you account how today's trendy tech products soon enough become tomorrows old outdated news. But a human organ lasts a life time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Why the consent from someone who harmed the society so badly that the only good thing a human toxic like this could ever do is to die and let an innocent live?"

Wow. That you or anyone would even feel the need to question why a human being, imprisoned or otherwise, would need to give consent for the use of his or her organs makes me very, very glad that there are human rights groups out there.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why the consent from someone who harmed the society so badly that the only good thing a human toxic like this could ever do is to die and let an innocent live?

Do you really believe that the death penalty in China is handed down only to what you call 'human toxic'? China has 55 capital offenses (68 until last year, so at least they're headed in the right direction), including the heinous crimes of tax evasion and property theft.

I wonder if the crimes of illegal organ trading and intentional injury cary the death penalty.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

International human rights groups have long accused China of harvesting organs from executed prisoners for transplant without the consent of the prisoner or their family—charges the government has denied.

Why the consent from someone who harmed the society so badly that the only good thing a human toxic like this could ever do is to die and let an innocent live?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

And people question Darwin's theories? I would say he was spot on.

You're using the 'Darwin's theories' towards a 17 year old, (16 when he got the operation) who's currently in critical condition in hospital? I thought you said before you were empahetic tmarie?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

And people question Darwin's theories? I would say he was spot on.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

This story is a year old, notice they say "April 2011" and not "April 2012". I remember the news the first time around and it was shocking.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

At least he did it for an iPhone and an iPad, not for crappy devices.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

new techonology killing peoples sad sad sad ... and now cell and computers are more important than life.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'd give my right arm to be able to play the piano well.....

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The lack of solid information in this article makes me suspect it's an urban legend.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Well, at least he was not prostituting himself.

Sarcasm off.

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

Ask him what he wants for a lung.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

He's saving his liver for an iMac.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Apple users tend to have esteem problems, I've noticed over the years. This case doesn't surprise me.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

This is sad.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Oh, for God's sake. Your iPhone will eventually break or become obsolete, but you won't get your kidney back. Hope he makes a recovery.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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