Push Red to Give a Kidney

An article on the Media Guardian website goes to show just how far television has come - and of course prove the fact that next year is a Charter Renewal year.

The BBC are launching a series this summer called DoNation that aims to socially engineer the people of Britain.

DoNation will be a week long series across BBC TV, Radio, Interactive and Online, it will include special editions of Holby City and Casualty, both with an interactive element.

Viewers will be able to vote by phone on a choice of two courses of action for the fictional doctors concerned, with their decision affecting the outcome of the show. Between the decision and the conclusion of the episode, experts will discuss the various courses of action open to hospital staff.

Other planned BBC ONE shows include Life on the List, a five-part documentary series following the personal stories behind organ donation, to be screened every night at 7pm.

The Kidney donation part of the season is that digital users can press the red button, fill out an organ doner phone and give a kidney when they die through the NHS organ doner list.

Is this social engineer gone a step to far? Welcome to the world of preach tv as the BBC aims to educate the nation. Previous projects along this scale and line of programming have included Talking Teenagers and Hiting Home.

I'm in two minds as to whether I like this idea or not, on one hand it is good to see a positive educational message put across, giving people the chance to learn about something they might not bother trying to, but on the other hand it stinks of nanny state control, 1984 anyone?

I will wait, watch it then tell you what I think... Watch and then judge.

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Social Engineering Charter Renewal Government BBC NHS Health