Real-Life Kidney Thieves

A kidney transplant ring has been busted in India. Hundreds of poor people were forced into having their kidneys removed. ABC News reports that victims were promised a job, then taken to a private house and forced at gunpoint to sell their kidneys.

One victim's story sounds just like the kidney-transplant urban legend:

"I was approached by a stranger for a job. When I accepted, I was taken to a room with gunmen," Mohammed Salim told India's local NDTV television channel. "They tested my blood, gave me an injection and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I had pain in my lower abdomen and I was told that my kidney had been removed."

The kidney transplant ring was found out when suspicious neighbors "noticed blood running out of the house's gutters." Yeah, that would kind of be a giveaway. (Thanks, Stephen)

Health/Medicine Urban Legends

Posted on Mon Jan 28, 2008



Comments

You look at the comments on the news site that first posted this and it is FULL of people touting the 'you'll be drugged at a party/prostitute/wake up in ice' crap. God, why are people so dumb!
Why would anyone risk the wrath of US investigation when they can continue to exploit the poor 3rd worlders for their organs?
This article seems believeable, though, I still thought there were enough poor people that owed money to loansharkers that could be pressured into selling their kidneys to pay off debt that you wouldnt have to trick people.
Posted by AussieBruce  on  Tue Jan 29, 2008  at  09:08 AM
"What am I, chopped liver"? I'm sorry, I kidney you. I'm a kidneyer. You got guts, kid, I'll hand you that. The nerve of that guy. Spineless bag of bones. Gets under my skin. I can't stomach it. Get off my back, shoulder to the wheel. What a heel, elbowing his way in like that, strongarming wristtwisting nippleripper.
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Tue Jan 29, 2008  at  09:27 PM
A kidney ring similar to this was the plot device of the (fictional) British movie "Dirty Pretty Things" of a few years ago. I never figured out why the movie was called "Dirty Pretty Things," though. Kidneys aren't especially dirty. Whether or not they are pretty is a matter of personal taste.
Posted by Big Gary  on  Wed Jan 30, 2008  at  10:52 AM
earings, nipple rings, belly rings...now kidney rings? where can I get one? (don't wanna be the last one on my block ya know)
Posted by darren  on  Mon Nov 17, 2008  at  02:18 PM
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