Kidney patient living in hope, a year after appeal

Renal patient Chris Bartolo is still waiting for a kidney transplant, a year after a public appeal was launched. The appeal was made by his former and present partners Sarah Borg and Anna Galea, mothers of his children. €5000 were offered to cover recovery costs. Amid controversy over ethics, the Live Organ Transplant Advisory Committee stopped 20 potential donors, strangers of Mr Bartolo, from starting screening, saying this went against the principle of distributive justice when anonymous people offered to be donors. It said that in such cases  the kidney should go to those most in need. The committee allowed direct donations by friends or relatives. Five came forward. A relative was found to be compatible but tests are now focused on whether he is fit enough to become a donor. Full story in The Times.