Is a kidney a marital asset to be divided?

[Foxy]

A US man divorcing his wife is demanding that she return the kidney he donated to her or pay him $1.5m (£1m) in compensation

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7818751.stm



shades of 'a pound of flesh'

[Beachcomber]

I don't think he ever expects to get the kidney back, or the money.
I think he's doing it to embarrass his ex-wife. Loads of worldwide publicity to let everyone know she's a slapper.

(More effective than just cutting up all her clothes)

[Libby]

I was outraged to hear about this news story today! Next there will be cases of people who gave consent for their deceased relatives' organs to be removed from people they don't know! How ridiculous could this get?! Crazy! Once the donor organ is donated, that should be it. It should be final with no comeback. We can't start messing around with people's lives like that, the ramifications could be fatal. Where do we draw the line?!

I agree with the comment above saying that the ex-husband has no intention of getting the kidney back, but is only interested in humiliating his ex-wife by drawing attention to her in this abstract way.

[newyorker]

Hey, if I donate any organs, it is understood, that if they piss me off I have every right to take back that organ with no anestetic. ;D

[Libby]

Quite a fair viewpoint i think lol!

[Libby]

Apparently the ex-husband, a doctor, is pursuing his demand for either the kidney back or compensation for it, because there is still no financial conclusion to the divorce case instigated by his ex-wife in 2005. There have been legal wranglings over the couple's children and access arrangements and the doctor is using the kidney to make a stand to resolve all issues and finalise the divorce and reach a settlement conclusion. Drastic measures i guess, but after three years or so trying to reach a resolution, i suppose he's at the end of his tether. No-one ever said divorce was easy.

[watchman]

Jan 10, 2009 3:29:55 GMT @newyorker said:

Hey, if I donate any organs, it is understood, that if they piss me off I have every right to take back that organ with no anestetic. ;D

Do you remember that scene in the first Terminator where Arnie punches his fist into some guy's chest and pulls out his heart?

That's the way to do it.

[norfolkdumpling25]

Well it is certainly a good way to publicise his case. It is obviously unrealistic to expect to get the kidney back but maybe the doc will get financial compensation.

[Libby]

I suppose after over three years trying to finalise his divorce and reach a settlement, the Doctor is getting desperate! lol!

[Beachcomber]

Most divorces cost the man an arm and a leg ........

Perhaps he's trying to redress the balance ?

[Libby]

Divorce isn't easy that's for sure! Hold on to your organs folks lol!

[Beachcomber]

must - resist - the - temptation - to - joke - about - holding - organs ...........

[Libby]

I suppose i asked for that lol!

Very well controlled BC! (is it ok to call you that?!)

[Beachcomber]

Of course you can Libby - it's better than the way some people refer to me

[Libby]

Thanks BC!

I wonder what the outcome of the divorce case will be! Has the ex-wife got the money to pay the value of the kidney, £1M wasn't it?!

[Beachcomber]

It says in the original article that he's a Doctor.
Aren't all American Doctors millionairs ?

[Beachcomber]

Maybe she screwed him in the divorce courts and he's trying to claw some of it back.

[Libby]

I think that was the problem Beachy, they hadn't reached financial settlement, but the costs were astronomical. He wanted to resolve it once and for all.

[cruciverbalist]

I've been giving my wife an organ every night for the last 3 years! Does that mean if we get divorced she gets to keep half? What good is 5 inches to anyone?

[Libby]

lol!