Report: Kid sells kidney for iPhone and iPad, now suffers from renal deficiency
Unfortunate story out of China sees teenager now fighting for his life
Reports out of China surfaced today telling the tale of a 17-year-old Chinese boy who wanted an iPad and iPhone so bad, he actually sold his kidney to get the gadgets.
A 17-year-old boy sold his kidney for an iPhone and iPad. (Via: Reuters)
The incident took place in April of last year and today five people are being charged with intentional injury.
According to the government-run Xinhua News Agency, one of the defendants in the case received 220,000 yuan ($35,000 USD) to arrange the transplant. Of that money, he paid the boy 22,00 yuan and split the rest of the money between the surgeon, medical staff, and the three other defendants.
The report does not indicate who received and paid for the kidney.
The boy was from Anhui, one of China’s poorest provinces. Upon receiving his portion of the money, he bought an iPhone and iPad. When asked by his mother where he got the money to purchase the two gadgets, he admitted selling his kidney.
Apple products, while very popular in China, are priced far beyond the reach of many families. An iPhone there starts at 3,988 yuan ($633) and iPads start at 2,988 yuan ($474).
The boy now suffers from renal deficiency and needs a transplant. Unfortunately, though, just a small percent of the people who need organ transplants in China are able to get them. This often leads to “transplant tourism”; that is, patients who travel overseas for operations, and to the black market for human organs.
What’s particularly noteworthy about this story is that, had the boy done this just a few years earlier, the five individuals now facing charges, would not be in any trouble at all. China only banned the trading of human organs in 2007.
The investigation is still underway. ■
Via: The New York Times
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