John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology, public speaker and a scientist examining the recovery of the nervous system after injury. Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection. He spends his spare time with his family and running.

22 Alternatives to Human Organ Transplantation

Objectives

By the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:

  1. Describe how and when cell or tissue donation can be used instead of organ donation.
  2. Describe the risks and benefits of using animal organs for transplantation.

Part 1. Alternatives to Human Organ Transplants

This lecture examines alternatives to entire human to human organ transplants. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Part 2. Xenotransplants

This lecture examines the use of animal-to-human xenotransplants for the treatment of human disease.The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Reading:

Xenotransplants: Using animal organs to save human lives. Bruce Agnew. Research in the News, Snapshots of Science and Medicine.

Prospects for xenotransplantation: Scientific aspects and ethical considerations. Pontifical Academy for Life.

Assignment: Xenotransplant costs and benefits

There is an unknown level of risk of zoonotic infection associated with a xenotransplant, so research on the long-term effects must be monitored.  Any patient that receives a xenotransplant agrees to continued restrictions and life-long medical monitoring. This agreement to these conditions violates the rights of an individual to withdraw as a research subject provided in the Declaration of Helsinki, the United States Office of Human Research Protections, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  An individual considering a xenotransplant is normally facing imminent death. Therefore, the patient is likely to feel some level of coercion to almost any condition in order to receive the desired life-extending treatment.

In your discussion group: Do the benefits to a recipient of a xenotransplant outweigh the costs to the patient and the risk to their family (and/or society) if a zoonotic disease develops?

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