A doctor demands his wife return his donated kidney.
The divorce proceedings are bitter, and now the physician is demanding his kidney back, or $1.5 million in compensation.
An ethicist who discussed the case said the demand was likely fruitless, saying “it’s illegal for an organ to be exchanged for anything of value,” and that “donating an organ is considered a gift.”
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{ 6 comments }
What is right here……Legal ground or Moral ground.
Well, he’s only demanding it back because his wife cheated on him. He saved her life and in return she screwed him.
Good Lord, only in New York.
What’s that old saying about possession being 9/10 of the law?
The organ was a gift. Period.
I’ve watched his interviews. This guy is unbelievable . . . and I don’t think “Jesus Christ” would approve of what he’s doing now.
Moreover, this clown is a doctor – a surgeon. The Medical Board up there (if they have one worth a damn) should offer him a refresher course on the ethics of his profession.
First Do No Harm.
Not sure if this is so clear cut. The kidney was definitely a gift. Let’s say the doctor gave her a 1 million dollar necklace as a gift, and then finds out she was cheating on him. In the divorce settlment, one would not think it ridiculous for him to ask for the necklace back. Though asking for the actual kidney back is a lawyer stunt (probably would not be ethical or advisable to re-implant the kidney), asking for some sort of compensation for a valuable if not priceless gift seems fair under the circumstances.
Don’t know the circumstances of the case, but since he is a surgeon, even though she cheated, he will probably have to pay her money in the settlement. One would think that the fact he has already given up a vital organ should factor into that equation.
I take all his claims of cheating with some skepticism.
Fault, such as adultery, can affect division of property in my state, I’m not sure about his.
However, a gift of jewelry remote from a cheating event would remain his or hers and would not affect division of property.
His donation of a kidney is not compensable in any way except for his moral satisfaction at saving another persons life.
I feel bad for him…sounds like he was very hurt by what she did. Not everyone is so okay with making a sacrifice and like Sydney Carton and having someone else get the girl.
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