Dutch kidney reality television show a hoax

AMSTERDAM, June 1 (Reuters) A Dutch reality television show in which a supposedly dying woman had to decide one of three contestants to whom she would donate a kidney was a hoax, the programme makers said.

The show, which the programme makers had said was intended to focus on the shortage of donor organs in the Netherlands, was condemned by Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende ahead of transmission and sparked controversy worldwide.

Identified only as ''Lisa'', the 37-year-old woman who had been said to have a brain tumour was to base her selection on the person's history and conversations with the candidates' families and friends.

At the last minute, yesterday she was revealed as a healthy actress. The contestants were also part of the deception.

Viewers in the Netherlands were asked to give advice via text messages during the 80-minute show which started at 0000 ist.

The show had set off a storm of criticism, both at home and abroad, and many believe reality TV has gone too far.

This show is detrimental to the whole business of organ donation, Balkanende said yesterday, adding it would do the reputation of the Netherlands no good abroad, according to Dutch news agency ANP.

Dutch embasies abroad received a number of complaints from people expressing their shock over the show, the foreign ministry said on its website.

Public broadcaster BNN, which came up with the idea, said it wanted to draw attention to the growing shortage of organ donors in the Netherlands.

Callers to a local radio station had suggested the whole thing could be a hoax by BNN to build up its ratings.

REUTERS AK KP0943