Surgeon Richard Batista Demands $1.5 Million or His Donated Kidney Back from Ex-Wife Following Their Divorce

In a highly publicized legal struggle, Richard Batista, a surgeon from New York, is insisting that his ex-wife return the kidney he donated during their marriage or pay him a staggering $1.5 million in compensation. This unusual case began in 2001 when Batista selflessly donated a kidney to Dawnell after she faced kidney failure—a noble act amid a faltering marriage. Their divorce in 2005 prompted him to demand either the organ's return or financial recompense.Richard contended that he was motivated by love for his wife and their children, stating he acted out of a desire to preserve their family. Despite his emotional pleas, including feelings of betrayal due to alleged infidelity and separation from their children, the Nassau County Supreme Court deemed the kidney a gift. Furthermore, medical professionals assert that retrieving the organ would be both unethical and highly impractical, underscoring the challenging emotional stakes entwined in their separation.