Animal-to-Human Transplants: the Ethics of Xenotransplantation
Published: Fri, 1 March 1996The shortage of human organs for transplantation has led scientists to search for new ways to help patients needing transplants. Attempts are being made to develop animal organs that can be transplanted into humans. Both pigs and, in the US, baboons are being developed for transplantation. This report considers the ethical concerns raised by such developments including:
- is it ethical to use animals to provide organs and tissue for transplantation into human beings?
- is it ethical to produce genetically modified pigs containing human genes?
- how can any animal suffering be minimised?
- will animal diseases be passed onto human beings?
- how can early patients be protected?
- how might people feel about receiving an animal organ?
- could the NHS afford animal-to-human transplants?
Last Updated Mon, 30 January 2006
