Ethical considerations in xenotransplantation of thoracic organs - a call for a debate on value based decisions

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2024

Publication Title

The Journal of heart and lung transplantation

Abstract

Xenotransplant covers a broad ethical territory and there are several ethical questions that have arisen in parallel with the technological advances that have allowed the first porcine transplants to occur. This brief communication highlights ethical considerations regarding heart and lung xenotransplantation, with an emphasis on unresolved value-based concerns in the field. The aim of this text is therefore to encourage the readers to consider the vast potential of this emerging technique to do good, but also the risk of doing harm, and to participate in a discussion. The list of questions presented here is not exhaustive but hopefully represents some of the questions that appear to be most pressing as the field advances. The focus is on the value-based, or ethical questions, not the questions related to the practical medical procedures.

Medical Subject Headings

Transplantation, Heterologous; Humans; Lung Transplantation; Animals; Heart Transplantation; Swine

PubMed ID

38775760

Volume

43

Issue

7

First Page

1033

Last Page

1038

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