When she saw a television commercial that was erroneous and made light of kidney donation, Barbara Hope, a recent kidney recipient, registered a complaint.
Barb’s email to the Gateway computer company that ran the ad helped convince them to pull the commercial.
“As a kidney patient I was really offended by the ad and felt that I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing. I also thought about all of those folks waiting for a kidney and how they would feel if they heard it. So, I went to the Gateway web site looking for any kind of email link I could and shipped off the email.”
She wrote the company, “I am appalled that you are running an ad on TV with the statement, ‘I shouldn’t have to sell a kidney to get a new PC.’” Barb pointed out that there are 51,000 people waiting for kidneys in this country and that 3,200 die while on the waiting list.
“You should remove that ad immediately,” she insisted.
Barb, who is a member of the CTC Patient Committee, received an email back from the director of Gateway’s communications effort. He wrote, “… after reviewing the commercial and taking into account the issue you raise, we agree it’s in poor taste and not an appropriate way to promote the Gateway brand.” He noted that the commercial would be pulled off the air that week.
Not wanting to let the issue rest there, Barb then suggested that Gateway become part of the national initiative that is working to enroll 1 million potential organ donors and recommended that Gateway find more information on organ and tissue donation at the web site, http://www.organdonor.gov/workplace.htm/.
“We CAN make a difference!” concludes Barbara.
