BBC Radio 4 LW

Inside the Ethics Committee

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Religion & Ethics

Joan Bakewell and a panel of experts wrestle with the ethics of a real-life medical case.

Joan Bakewell is joined by a panel of experts to wrestle with the ethics arising from a real-life medical case.

Inside the Ethics Committee: Series 8

Inside the Ethics Committee: Series 8: Episode 2: Too Old to Donate?

Episode 2

Episode 2: Too Old to Donate?

Series 8

Too Old to Donate?

BBC Radio 4 - Inside the Ethics Committee, Series 8, Too Old to Donate?

Should an elderly woman be allowed to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger?

Pamela wants to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger. She's extremely determined. She's also 82 years old. Should she be allowed to donate and, if so, who should get her kidney?

Since losing her husband to a terminal illness, and watching his kidneys fail, Pamela has felt a burning desire to try to help someone else escape a similar fate. 

A year after his death, she writes to her local hospital to ask if she can become an 'altruistic' donor, and donate one of her kidneys to a stranger. To her horror, she receives a letter back saying that she is 'too old'. Undeterred, she approaches a transplant surgeon at another hospital, and he agrees to see her. 

To the surgeon, Pamela appears fit and extremely determined. But for a potential donor, she's also rather unusual - she's eighty two years old.

Should Pamela be allowed to donate? What are the risks to her - both of the operation itself, and of being left with only one kidney? And, if the team allow her to donate, who should receive such an elderly organ?

Producer: Beth Eastwood.

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

A panel of experts tackle the ethics involved in a real hospital case

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Inside the Ethics Committee

Series 8

Episode 2: Too Old to Donate?

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4