Emmerdale slammed by charity over controversial organ stealing storyline

EMMERDALE have been slammed by a leading charity and branded “melodramatic” for its current organ stealing plot involving Joe Tate.

Fans of the ITV soap opera have watched on in recent weeks as Joe Tate has battled with a medical secret before it was revealed that he needed a kidney transplant.

As part of a new plot, Joe has insisted on securing a relative’s kidney through deception.

Using a private doctor, he first attempted to see if Noah Dingle was a match before next setting his sights on Caleb Milligan and going all out in order to swipe and secure his kidney.

However, the show has now faced a backlash from leading charity Kidney Research UK who are not backing the show’s ongoing plot.

The heads of the charitable organisation have now written to the soap, as well as Coronation Street and EastEnders, to express their concern with the organ stealing plot and remind them of their duties to accurately portray illnesses such as kidney disease.

Hitting out at the reckless storyline, Lucy Sreeves, the executive director at Kidney Research UK said: “For millions, kidney disease is not just a plot twist.

“We appreciate that soaps need drama, but reckless storylines send the wrong message, creating fear and confusion at a time when we desperately need more people to understand kidney disease and step forward as living donors.

” Six people d.i.e every week waiting for a transplant, organ donation is a highly regulated process and misleading portrayals ignore the harsh reality of being on the waiting list.

“Today we’re urging writers and producers to consider the positive difference they could make to the 7.2million people living with kidney disease in the UK by ensuring their plot twists are accurate and plausible.”

The spokesperson for the charity continued: “Soap operas have come a long way in recognising the importance of sensitive and accurate portrayals of events that affect a character’s mental health, and it is time the same approach applied to devastating conditions like kidney disease.”

In order to help soaps, the charity has extended an offer to all the show’s production teams to provide a real-world insight into life with the disease.

The charity hope this will allow the shows to continue to deliver impactful storylines but with more accurate details and not sensationalising the disease for the sake of drama.

Lucy Griffiths, whose young son lives with kidney disease, also slammed the recent plot and the soap’s portrayal, commenting: “People have no comprehension of what a gruelling, invasive and dangerous treatment dialysis is and how major a transplant is.

“If the soaps got this right, they could educate people about how life after living donation carries on. How agreeing to share a loved one’s organs in the most terrible circumstances can give someone the chance of a ‘normal life’.

“Don’t insult patients and their families by sensationalising this cruel and debilitating disease, it’s dramatic enough already.”

In scenes to be screened tonight, Caleb is stabbed in order for Joe and his doctor to capture him and begin the process of taking his kidney.

Viewers will see how things don’t quite go to plan with Caleb being left on the brink of death just before the removal process.