Parents of Aussie man say cult was behind offer of his kidney

[okarol]

Tuesday, June 05, 2007 | Updated at 10:02 AM EDT

Parents of Aussie man say cult was behind offer of his kidney

CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO

The bizarre tale of an Australian man inspired by religion to donate a kidney to a Canadian woman was being widely reported in his home country, but a Toronto hospital official would not confirm the reports.

It's been reported that Ashwyn Falkingham, 22, headed back to Sydney -- both kidneys intact -- after Toronto General Hospital decided not to perform the operation.

The Globe and Mail reported Tuesday that Falkingham's parents said they e-mailed a warning about their son to the Ontario Ministry of Health and were given a list of hospitals where the transplant could take place.

The parents then e-mailed a warning to all hospitals on the list stating that their son had been brainwashed and incapable of making decisions for himself, the Globe reported.

Falkingham is a member of Jesus Christians -- a group that believes kidney donation is the "ultimate" expression of faith.

Falkingham spent 10 weeks in Canada waiting to hear whether his donation would be approved. He was scheduled to undergo surgery on April 30.

The hospital is said to have questioned whether Falkingham may have been coerced into donating by the so-called "kidney cult."

The head of Toronto's University Health Network, Dr. Bob Bell, wouldn't discuss the case, but said the hospital goes to great lengths to ensure patients understand there are risks involved in organ donation.

"We've never had patient death during organ donation here, but certainly death has occurred during the process of donations of organs of living donors," he said.

"Its critical that patients understand the risks that they're undergoing and that there's no coercion present in the choice to make a gift like this."

Bell said it's illegal in Canada to receive compensation in exchange for an organ, and that the gift should be based on "altruistic motives."

Australian media reports suggest the man came to Canada to make the donation because under Australian law, he would have had to have a long-term friendship with a recipient before he could donate.

The man's father told the Globe and Mail that his son had intended to donate the kidney to an Australian woman but she died before the transplant could take place.
   
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