No details about the arrangement have been released

American pop singer Selena Gomez received a kidney transplant from her best friend, she revealed this week. Ms Gomez, 25, suffers from lupus and the disease was attacking her kidneys. TV actress Francia Raisa, 29, volunteered to donate hers. She wrote on Instagram that “there aren’t words to describe” how she can thank Raisa, who gave “the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney.”

Photos were released on Instagram of the two women side by side in hospital and of Ms Gomez displaying a very large scar on her abdomen.

Despite the public relations frenzy, very little information has been released about the procedure. Whether Ms Raisa had been remunerated for the donation or what else might have motivated her donation is unknown. However, Ms Raisa’s mother, Virginia Almendarez, told the media that the actress did it just so that “Selena could have a better life” and that “not even a single penny” was exchanged. 

Creative commons
https://www.bioedge.org/images/2008images/FB_selena_kidney.jpg
altruistic donation
kidney transplants

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michael Cook

Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.

Latest posts by Michael Cook (see all)

• How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
• House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
• Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021