"Every patient who has called me has said, 'I need a life. I'm tired of being on dialysis.' "

About 4,000 Canadians are waiting for an organ transplant -- and 75 per cent of them are kidney patients, according to the Kidney Foundation of Canada. None of Thurairajan's clients has undergone a transplant yet, although she said a Toronto man is expected to travel to Pakistan for a new kidney within a month.

"It's taking advantage of vulnerable people for self-serving goals and that's immoral," said John Baker, a University of Calgary bioethicist.