Is a Head Transplant Ethical?

[PureX]

He says he’s transplanted a corpse head. But who wants to be his first living test?

Do you think this is ethical? Why or why not?

Would God approve of something like this, if it could be done safely?

That would be a 'full body transplant', rather than a 'head transplant', wouldn't it?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

That would be a 'full body transplant', rather than a 'head transplant', wouldn't it?

Maybe, but I don't really care, I just went with the one that would make the more compact title.

 

[Jainarayan]

 

[Vinayaka]

If you could get one, just whose head would you want?

 

[YmirGF]

For one idiot?

Yep. Idiotic, I know, but if I told you the story over 10-12 hours and over a bottle of Bacardi ... you may understand more clearly... maybe.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

If you could get one, just whose head would you want?

Deadmau5's head.

 

[PureX]

Maybe, but I don't really care, I just went with the one that would make the more compact title.

"Lazy thinking is lazy doing."

 

[Jeremiahcp]

"Lazy thinking is lazy doing."

It was not lazy thinking. Get real.

I considered both, considered how the media was using them, then prioritized what I wanted in my post. I decided a shorter title was more appealing. That was not lazy. Get over yourself.

 

[Twilight Hue]

If anyone didn't catch it, this is the patient:

Valery Spiridonov set to undergo the world's first human head transplant | Daily Mail Online

You beat me to it. I remember that being announced a fair while ago. Hadn't heard anything since.

 

[Twilight Hue]

A human head transplant on a corpse isn't a successful transplant. Just saying.

It does shed a whole new light on the horror tale Frankenstein.

 

[Jumi]

If anyone didn't catch it, this is the patient:

Valery Spiridonov set to undergo the world's first human head transplant | Daily Mail Online

He actually ended up saying no to the operation, when the good surgeon told him there were no guarantees he could walk with the new body...

 

[Kemosloby]

No but a body transplant is.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Do you think this is ethical? Why or why not?

There are those who donate their bodies to science, there are organ donors, and there are people who would consent to receiving said donations. As long as everything is on the up and up legally, I don't really care. The only ethical concern I have as a medical professional is informed consent. I'm honestly really curious to see if this will work.

Would God approve of something like this, if it could be done safely?

Probably not, but He's not in a big rush to give the guy going to be getting the new body quality of life anyway. God also doesn't seem to be able to pull this off, given the whole John the Baptist fiasco.

Ethical? I don't even believe it is possible as most of the medical world is taking an arm's length view of the claim. The fellow involved seems to be little more than a self-promoting fruitcake.

Lots of things used to be impossible before some idiot was like, "Hold my beer."

I suppose that person could give consent, however, it brings into question should we consider the feelings of the family of the donor body in such a position?

Only if they were in charge of the donor's wishes. If the donor themselves made the decision, I don't care what the family thinks.

I carry a donor card giving my concent for any part of my body to be used after i die. My kidneys, liver, heart, lungs etc could save/prolong a few lives. I see no reason my head shouldn't be used if the tech is there to do the job properly.

It's not like I'm going to need it back.

How many of you think assisted suicide is ethical?

I consider it far more ethical than to watch someone suffer for months if not years because they can't accept Mommy or Daddy is not immortal.

 

[ChristineM]

It's not like I'm going to need it back.

Exactly and it does some good

 

[David T]

He says he’s transplanted a corpse head. But who wants to be his first living test?

Do you think this is ethical? Why or why not?

Would God approve of something like this, if it could be done safely?

In the documentary mars attack the aliens were able to remove the head and keep it functioning just fine. Is that ethical and moral? It seems like it would make sex less fun.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

After a decade long battle with a lung transplant recipient I finally removed the donor status from my paperwork.
I don't want any part of my body potentially keeping another waste of flesh breathing.

That's a remarkable story.

See if you can watch this without weeping (about 2 minutes long):

 

[idav]

I think it would be perfectly ethical, the body would lose full rights as a citizen and belongs only to the head for government paperwork purposes.

Edit btw it would be called a body transplant.

 

[YmirGF]

That's a remarkable story.

See if you can watch this without weeping (about 2 minutes long):

No tears, sorry.