Man Demands Return of Kidney, in Ugly Divorce Battle

[Brian Damage]

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York doctor is demanding that his estranged wife pay him $1.5 million to compensate him for the kidney he gave her while they were still on good terms. Dr. Richard Batista spoke Wednesday to reporters at his lawyer's office in Garden City, Long Island.

He said he gave his kidney to Dawnell Batista in June 2001. She filed for divorce in July 2005.

The 49-year-old Batista works for Nassau University Medical Center. The couple have three children, ages, 8, 11 and 14.

A message left for his wife's attorney, Douglas Rothkopf, was not immediately returned.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jvJ5TlgzE010EKMRYOefrIy9xPDAD95IH1AO0

[TJL]

The world needs more caring and compassionate doctors like this man.

Isn't it amazing how a divorce can bring out the douche in people?

;)

[catlover79]

Good grief!! :rolleyes: :crazy:

[Brian Damage]

I can understand the man being upset, I mean he gave this woman a kidney and all she did in return is have an affair and refuse counseling and filed for divorce.

[dawsongirl]

:lol: Does he want it put back in? Now it's all used.

[catlover79]

:lol: Does he want it put back in? Now it's all used.
EWWWWWWWWWW...:eek: puke: :rofl:

[Mikado]

Maybe she can give him all her CDs in trade :rolleyes:

[Sharop]

I can understand the man being upset, I mean he gave this woman a kidney and all she did in return is have an affair and refuse counseling and filed for divorce.

Yes, I can understand him feeling bitter towards his wife. He must feel that, after having cared so much for her, she threw his kindness back in his face and betrayed him.

I do think it's a bit petty to demand that she reimburse him but I don't blame him for feeling angry and bitter.

[Zebra 3]

The world needs more caring and compassionate doctors like this man.

[catlover79]

Yes, I can understand him feeling bitter towards his wife. He must feel that, after having cared so much for her, she threw his kindness back in his face and betrayed him.

I do think it's a bit petty to demand that she reimburse him but I don't blame him for feeling angry and bitter.
I agree.

[Chocoholic]

Gee, I've heard about people battling over children, pets, and assets, but this is the first I've heard over someone fighting over a body part :lol:

[TJL]

Okay, i read the story in today's paper, and I can see how the guy feels. His wife did betray him. That sucks.

But I doubt he'll see any money from this. The legal experst who were interviewed for the article I read says this man is nuts.

I wonder how the story would be treated if a woman wanted money for a kidney she gave to her cheating husband?

;)

[Waterston_Fan]

And couldn't there be a chance that the lady would die from the operation if she did give her husband his kidney? and also could the guy die too? :confused:

[Pus$y Galore]

I can understand the man being upset, I mean he gave this woman a kidney and all she did in return is have an affair and refuse counseling and filed for divorce.


Same here! I'm actually glad this guy is doing this and it should be very interesting what the outcome might be. It's also a lot tougher on the donors than it is on the recipients so I don't blame him a bit for going "for a pound of flesh" in this case. Especially if it's true that she hasn't let him see the kids since 2005. What scum of a mother takes her children's father away from them?

I'll bet my ex is glad he never donated an organ to me!!

[Pus$y Galore]

And couldn't there be a chance that the lady would die from the operation if she did give her husband his kidney? and also could the guy die too? :confused:


No - if you read another article, it clearly states that he knows he can't have the actual organ back, and he and his team of lawyers got a medical expert to put a "price" on the kidney. So he's sueing for $1.5 million - what they figure the price of a kidney would be if it could be purchased. Of course, he'll never see the money, he's more making a point here I think.

[dawsongirl]

I wonder how you determine the price of an organ? Check out the craigslist Black Market section for the street price? I'm kidding, but seriously, that seems objectionable.

This woman seems like a great candidate for harvesting anyway.

[catlover79]

I wonder how you determine the price of an organ? Check out the craigslist Black Market section for the street price? I'm kidding, but seriously, that seems objectionable.

This woman seems like a great candidate for harvesting anyway.
Yeah, I'm curious how they determine the price of organs, too. :lol:

[Janice]

George Lopez's Wife: You Gotta Be Kidneying Me

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tmz.com/media/2009/01/0109_george_lopez_g.jpg

A NY doctor who's demanding the return of the kidney he donated to his adultery-committing ex-wife suddenly has a brand new enemy -- George Lopez's wife!

Ann Lopez, who once donated one of her kidneys to save George's life, has fired off a statement, crushing the Kidneyian Giver – aka Dr Richard Batista – for the "outrageous demand" he made in the New York media. Batista – who found out about his wife's affair after he donated the organ -- demanded his wife return the kidney or fork over $1.5 million ASAP.

In the statement, Lopez says, "Being an organ donor is selflessly giving another person the gift of life. Organ donation is an act of compassion, humanity, and love. To ask for monetary compensation for this gift is not only illegal but sends a highly destructive and irreparable message about living organ donation to the public.

Dr. Batista is also violating the moral standards that every physician vows to uphold as part of the Hippocratic oath. As an advocate for living organ donation, I condemn this outrageous demand that Dr. Batista has set forth. As a husband, father and physician he should consider the heath and welfare of Mrs. Batista, the mother of his three children above anything else. Asking her to return the kidney is an impossibility and asking for a monetary sum is immoral, cowardly, and culpable."

[Pus$y Galore]

^ George's wife can say all she wants, however, I'd like to see her point of view if she suddenly found out George was screwing around on her and then served her divorce papers in the middle of a busy day at work (the surgeon was given the papers in the middle of an operation for God's sake! I sure wouldn't have wanted to be his patient at the time)!.

Also, if George kept her from seeing her kids for 3 years - I'd like to know if she then feels no hard feelings for giving up an organ for him.

Sure, I agree that people should have the interests of the children first in a divorce, but obviously the wife hasn't since she's the one who had an affair and hasn't let the children see their father in years.


I'll bet the court will agree though that it should be considered a "gift" and he won't get anything.

[Janice]

^ George's wife can say all she wants, however, I'd like to see her point of view if she suddenly found out George was screwing around on her and then served her divorce papers in the middle of a busy day at work (the surgeon was given the papers in the middle of an operation for God's sake! I sure wouldn't have wanted to be his patient at the time)!.

Also, if George kept her from seeing her kids for 3 years - I'd like to know if she then feels no hard feelings for giving up an organ for him.

Sure, I agree that people should have the interests of the children first in a divorce, but obviously the wife hasn't since she's the one who had an affair and hasn't let the children see their father in years.


I'll bet the court will agree though that it should be considered a "gift" and he won't get anything.
Holy crap, I didn't know all that! He was used for sure. What a terrible betrayal.

[catlover79]

Holy crap, I didn't know all that! He was used for sure. What a terrible betrayal.
Yes - the situation was definitely different from the Lopezes. I feel bad for the guy. :(

[Sharop]

Yes - the situation was definitely different from the Lopezes. I feel bad for the guy. :(

So do I. What exactly is his motivation for looking for monetary compensation? Does he feel he's entitled to it or is it more like a way of "getting back" at her?

Either way, although I think it comes across as a bit petty, I can't really blame him if he wants to get back at her. I don't blame him at all for feeling resentful. She hasn't treated him at all well.

[catlover79]

^ I think it's more about making a point than it is about the money. From what I've read, I don't think he is really expecting to get that money.

[Doodyville10019]

As far as I'm concerned, they're BOTH screwed up in the head - him for asking for a kidney back and her for having an affair and filing for divorce after he practically saved her life!

[Sharop]

As far as I'm concerned, they're BOTH screwed up in the head - him for asking for a kidney back and her for having an affair and filing for divorce after he practically saved her life!

He's not actually asking for his kidney back, he's asking for money - which, after hearing how she's treated him, I can't say I blame him for.