Xenotransplantation - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Xenotransplantation - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Xenotransplantation - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
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Animal-to-Human Transplants : the ethics of xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong><br />
The implicati<strong>on</strong>s of xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> for attitudes to<br />
human organ d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong><br />
9.16 An important c<strong>on</strong>cern raised by xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> is the possible effect up<strong>on</strong><br />
willingness to d<strong>on</strong>ate human organs. Relatives and friends will often find solace in<br />
the knowledge that the death of a loved <strong>on</strong>e has not been entirely futile but has given<br />
the gift of life to another. The organisati<strong>on</strong> called BODY has been established to<br />
bring together relatives of d<strong>on</strong>ors. They provide examples of families who say that<br />
it has been a great comfort to them to know that the organs of a loved <strong>on</strong>e have<br />
given life to some<strong>on</strong>e else. 14 In <strong>on</strong>e case, parents who agreed to the transplantati<strong>on</strong><br />
of their dead s<strong>on</strong>’s kidney value an an<strong>on</strong>ymous letter from the recipient’s mother as<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g their most treasured possessi<strong>on</strong>s. The gratitude of recipients is also striking.<br />
One liver transplant patient has said that not a day goes by without her thinking of<br />
the pers<strong>on</strong> whose liver she received. 15 Thus, the present system of human d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong><br />
creates a delicate web of relati<strong>on</strong>ships am<strong>on</strong>g members of society that reflects a<br />
commitment to social solidarity and mutual c<strong>on</strong>cern.<br />
9.17 The willingness of human beings to d<strong>on</strong>ate their organs, however, is hard to sustain<br />
(paragraphs 2.7 - 2.8). Quite a small amount of adverse publicity will have large<br />
effects <strong>on</strong> rates of organ d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>. C<strong>on</strong>versely, it is an uphill struggle to increase the<br />
number of people registered as organ d<strong>on</strong>ors, even despite initiatives such as the NHS<br />
Organ D<strong>on</strong>or Register. 16 It appears that the ethical c<strong>on</strong>cerns and anxieties people<br />
have about organ d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> are <strong>on</strong>ly partly overcome by the sense that organ<br />
d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> is the ultimate gift in that it allows some<strong>on</strong>e else to live.<br />
9.18 In this c<strong>on</strong>text, there is a danger that xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> could jeopardise the<br />
willingness with which human organs are d<strong>on</strong>ated. This may be for two reas<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Firstly, early publicity about successful xenografts could lead potential d<strong>on</strong>ors or<br />
relatives to think that it was no l<strong>on</strong>ger worthwhile to register for organ d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
people might assume that the use of animal organs had eliminated the need for<br />
human organs. Sec<strong>on</strong>dly, unease at xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> might increase the general<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerns about organ transplantati<strong>on</strong> and lead to a fall in the d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> of human<br />
organs.<br />
9.19 It is highly unlikely, however, that xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> will eliminate the need for<br />
human organs. In the near future, at least, xenografts are unlikely to be as successful<br />
as human organ transplants. The most likely outcome is that xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong><br />
will ultimately become part of a range of strategies that could be used in the<br />
14<br />
The British Organ D<strong>on</strong>or Society (BODY) (1991) The Gift of Life: An introducti<strong>on</strong> to organ and tissue<br />
transplantati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
15<br />
Brooks G (1995) Comments at an Institute of Medicine c<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>on</strong> Xenograft transplantati<strong>on</strong>: science, ethics<br />
and public policy,Washingt<strong>on</strong> DC.<br />
16<br />
For informati<strong>on</strong> about the NHS Organ D<strong>on</strong>or Register, freeph<strong>on</strong>e 0800 555777.<br />
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