Thursday, July 30, 2009

Goodworks Organ Bank

Enter Samuel, a patient dying from kidney disease. Long organ transplant queues and incompatible organ matches have left him in desperate need of an organ transplant, regardless of the means. But he will soon learn that some means are not worth the costs...

A man storms out from a hospital. This is Samuel, who has just been informed that the organ transplant queue has shortened - he now has to wait for only about 2 years. But his doctor also tells him that he has about 3 months to live. Tough luck, the doctor says, but still he has a chance of making it that far, though it is an infinitesimal chance at best.

As Samuel makes his way to his car, a well dressed man approaches him. The man introduces himself as an agent of the Goodworks Organ Bank, a medical organization specially dealing with organ transplants. The agent describes the vast repository of organs the Bank has in its vaults, and claims to have a kidney match for Samuel, and at good rates too. Samuel is doubtful, but the agent reassures Samuel that all the organs are legal and there is documentation to prove their origin and quality.

Samuel, having no alternative, decides to take up the offer. At the Goodworks Organ Bank, a bank officer is sent to deal with Samuel. The officer explains the prevailing interest rates for the kidney. Samuel notes the low cost of the kidney, and signs the contract. But he neglects to examine the contract...

The transplantation operation proceeds successfully. A few months later, Samuel recieves a letter from the Goodworks Organ Bank, requesting payment. Samuel is stymied- he thinks he has fully paid for all the expenses of the operation. Thinking that it is an error on the Bank's part, he ignores the letter.

A few more months pass. Each month, Samuel has been recieving letters from the Goodworks Organ Bank, requesting payment. One day, feeling that something is very wrong, Samuel calls up the Organ Bank regarding the matter. He argues that he has fully paid for all expenses, and that he has the neccessary transactional documents to prove it. The bank officer only agrees cryptically that he is right, that the cash expenses have been paid...

More months pass. One day, when Samuel is leaving for work, a van painted with "Goodworks Debt Recollection Services" on its side pulls up on the driveway. A few men then proceed to knock Samuel out and drag him into the van. When he awakes, Samuel finds himself strapped to an operating table. Samuel recognizes the doctor as a member of the Goodworks Organ Bank, and screams for an explanation. The doctor replies that Samuel has borrowed an organ from the Bank, and has yet to service that debt. Hence, the Bank is forcefully recollecting that initial loan, plus interest...

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