Free, anonymous kidney donation sparks chain of similar transplants in Italy

For the first time in Italy, a patient received a kidney "for generosity" from a stranger, which created a domino effect leading to a total of six transplants, local authorities said Friday.

The donor, a woman from the Italian northern city of Pavia, is unidentified as the Italian legislation makes it illegal to be paid for an organ, according to local reports.

Based on a law introduced in 2010, it is possible, however, to donate a kidney as an act of altruism, Rai State Radio reported.

"Today we tell you the extraordinary story of a person who without any personal interest and making personal sacrifice has activated a virtuous chain that has led six people to having a life opportunity," Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin told a press conference in Rome.

The donor was described by local health authorities as an "extraordinarily normal person" and an "example of civil heroism."

In fact, the first donation activated a chain of "cross-over transplants" in difference cities of Italy, a statement from Niguarda Hospital in Milan, one of the hospitals involved in the event, said.

"Niguarda was the third hospital in this chain of transplants. A patient of ours received a kidney from a stranger. So his wife, whose kidney was incompatible with her husband, decided in turn to donate her kidney to another stranger as an act of altruism," sources from the hospital told Xinhua.

"The average waiting period for people in need of a kidney is three years in Italy," the sources said, "This means these people are so grateful when someone decides to save the life of their dearest person just for generosity that they feel like doing the same thing to save someone else."

According to health ministry figures, a total of 9,165 people are awaiting a transplant in Italy, of which 6,529 are awaiting a kidney transplant.