[pendy]

I find this impossible to believe. For a start, as Westender says, the incision would be a great deal larger (I have worked on a renal unit), and the person concerned would certainly not be able to get out of a bath. Also, there would have been a strong likelihood of him dying of hypothermia before coming round. The clincher is both kidneys being taken. You can function on one kidney well enough, but for a very short period with none. Taking one I could perhaps believe, but it would be sheer insanity to take both. The scenario also posits a skilled renal surgeon, an equally skilled assistant, an anaesthetist, and a scrub nurse, at the minimum crew. It's difficult to believe you could find four people in the medical professions prepared to condemn someone to a possible painful and lingering death for that amount of money. Yes, it sounds like a lot, but if you are setting up such a party, it works out at about $200 Australian each! I anticipate hearing Lettie's and Margaret's views!