Ethics of Xenotransplantation

Each year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of people need organ transplants. In 1998 alone, 14,240 people underwent transplants for kidneys or hearts(the 2 most commonly needed transplants). Despite this, 46,549 people were still in need of a new kidney/heart. This incredible shortage costs many people their lives, and these are only the numbers for two organs! Because of this shortage, many experts are considering xenotransplantation as a potential alternate for human organs. Xenotransplantation is the process of transplanting cells, tissue, or whole organs from an organism of one species to an organism of a different species. While previous attempts have been quite dismal, there have been many new scientific breakthroughs, which are re-opening the debate over the viability of this procedure.
This argument has been hotly disputed for many years, and both sides have good reasoning for their beliefs. Those who say xenotransplantation should be used obviously start with the obvious: it could save many lives. According to many, this alone could justify any ri



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Before researching xenotransplantation, my opinion was quite simple: if it could save thousands of people, it needs to be seriously considered. However, by studying this topic, I have come to a new conclusion. Based on the potential for harming large amounts of the human population, as well as issues such as the cruelty of breeding animals simply to take their organs, I have decided that I oppose the use of xenotransplantation. The sample population that I surveyed, however, did not share this opinion. The results of the survey show that while 45% oppose xenotransplantation, a majority, 55%, is in favor of the procedure.

While these key arguments of xenotransplantation’s supporters are very logical, the opposition has good points as well. One such example is the possibility of new diseases being introduced to the patient. Baboons and pigs, the two leading “candidates” for donor, are both known to contain illnesses that could be potentially damaging to humans. Baboons possess at least twenty such viruses, while pigs have shown their capability for des

Some topics in this essay:
Organ Transplant, United States, Influenza, Organ, Human Anatomy, Need, Surgery, 1918 Flu Pandemic, Transplantation Medicine, Biology,

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PROFESSIONAL ESSAYS:

ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION & ETHICAL ISSUES Introduc .... Ethics of xenotransplantation: animal issues, concent, and likely transformation of transplant ethics. World Journal Surgery, 21, 975-982. .... (2689 11 )

Organ transplant Surgery .... Finally, Geddes and Cardella (2000) have pointed out that xenotransplantation - the transplantation of animal .... Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 27(4), 380-383 .... (2043 8 )

Cloning .... Xenotransplantation is "the transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from one species of animal into another .... Kass, LR and Wilson, JQ The Ethics of Human Cloning. .... (1489 6 )

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