Today In SMH News: Teen Trades Kidney For iPad, iPhone

Desperate times call for desperate measures when Apple products are up for grabs, even if that means risking one’s life.

That's all so true for one teen from China who sold his kidney to purchase the new iPad and iPhone. Known only by the surname Wang, the 17-year-old’s plans reportedly fell through after his mother discovered his new gadgets and asked him how he was able to afford them and like all well-behaved teenagers he told his mother the truth.

Five people, including a surgeon that extracted Wang’s kidney, have been charged with intentional injury. According to China’s government-run Xinhua News Agency, the mastermind that set up the kidney extraction was He Wei, who also received a bulk of the money. “Wei received 220,000 yuan ($35,000) for the transplants, gave the student 22,000 yuan ($3,500) and shared the remaining money with the other defendants and several medical staff involved in the operation,” Xinhua said.

Unfortunately, Wang now suffers from a renal deficiency and may one day need a kidney transplant of his own.

Is it that serious? —Johnathan Cruse