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Results for “Nuffield Council on Bioethics”

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PubMed1996

Animal to human transplants: the ethics of xenotransplantation (1).

There now exists, potentially, the scientific and medical knowledge to transplant animal organs into humans, a procedure called xenotransplantation. The rationale behind the idea is that demand for transplanted human organs far exceeds supply. For this reason, alternative methods have been sought. The use of animals is seen as one way to deal with the problem.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed1996

Animal to human transplants: the ethics of xenotransplantation (2).

This article is the concluding part of the discussion of ethical issues around xenotransplantation which was commenced in the May issue of the journal. Very little discussion has been published in the professional press on this topic. The message of the articles is that it behoves us to think about these issues before commencing such a new course.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Babe the magnificent organ donor? The perils and promises surrounding xenotransplantation.

The number of xenotransplantations may increase despite the many concerns about the likelihood of spreading known and unknown infectious diseases. Regardless of the safety precautions employed in the early trials, the risks remain unknown. Zoonotic and even xenozoonootic diseases are not remote possibilities; they exist in various forms and come from various sources. The nature of transplantation requires the suppression of the immune system to levels where opportunistic infections may take route. Even if procedures to avoid increased levels of immunosuppression to the recipient were successful, risk to third parties, whose immune systems would not be equipped to fight off the infection, would remain. In this context, the PHS Guidelines provide a useful starting point, but they do not go far enough. First, the Guidelines are merely suggestions; this needs to be changed to require institutions undertaking xenotransplantation research and clinical trials to comply with the Guidelines. Second, every possible effort should be made to protect third parties from disease transmission. This requires and justifies placing restrictions on recipients that, in an ordinary context, would be unacceptable. Third, xenotransplantations should occur only after all other medical measures have been exhausted. Until the time when disease transmission risks are scientifically insignificant or cures for the transmitted diseases are found, mandatory guidelines with stringent requirements are the best means of balancing the interests of society against the potential beneficiaries of xenotransplantation.

Adult↗