Man Who Sold His Kidney for iPhone and iPad is Bedridden for Life
25-year-old Wang Shangkun had sold his right kidney as a teenager at the age of 17 years in 2011 to the organ harvesters online, who offered him cash for his kidney, so that he can buy Apple’s latest devices.
We have heard many derange stories about Chinese people who have gone to heights in order to own Apple’s latest gadgets. But many a times this craziness or obsession have done more harm than good, the latest addition is the obsession to own an iPad and iPhone, which finally led a Chinese man to hospital and who is now bedridden for life.
25-year-old Wang Shangkun had sold his right kidney as a teenager at the age of 17 years in 2011 to the organ harvesters online, who offered him cash for his kidney, so that he can buy Apple’s latest devices. Wang is believed to have sought the new iPhone in order to show off to his friends. He belongs to a poor family who lived in one of China’s poorest provinces and could not afford to buy expansive gadgets. So he turned to other means to raise the money, which proved to be fatal for him.
Wang Shangkun said, “At the time, I wanted to buy an iPad2, but I didn’t have any money. When I was on the Internet, I had a kidney agent send a message, saying that selling a kidney can give me 20,000”.
Wang did not inform his family about the decision. He secretly traveled from his hometown in the eastern Anhui Province to the southern Hunan Province, where the operation was carried out and his kidney was removed. Wang was sent back home. He received 22,000 Yuan for his kidney, which he used to purchase an iPhone 4 and an iPad 2.
Wang’s health started to deteriorate immediately after the operation, as he began suffering from a decreased level of kidney function. Unhygienic and unsanitary conditions at the time of surgery and lack of postoperative care are believed to be the reasons behind the development of infection that eventually led to renal failure in his second kidney. Wang’s health condition also forced him to give up his studies.
As the local China media reports, Wang now spends his days in bed and depends on the dialysis machine to clear his blood from toxins in order to survive his kidney failure. He is now dependent on social benefits for his survival and treatment.
In the year 2012, nine individuals were arrested in connection with the kidney racket, which also includes five surgeons. They were jailed for their involvement in the racket. Wang’s family has reportedly received $225,000 as compensation that year.