What's your opinion on xeno transplantation?

I'm all for it; I value human lives over pigs or baboons. Apparently, the Dutch government has an interesting definition of "possible".

I really don't know enough about it to say. I just wish more people would specify(through donor cards and living wills) that they would like to donate their organs at the time of their death. There are obviously many people dying each day. If they were all organ donors, would this question even be necessary?

daver: I know xeno transplantation has been performed, but Iīm pretty sure it hasnīt been a success. As far as I know all people that got an organ from an animal died pretty quickly after the surgery.
Or am I wrong?

This might be a stupid question, but are animals killed just for this purpose?

Why not? They'll be in my body one way or another. Mmmmm, pork....

It seems like it might be a bad idea; I'm no biology expert, but isn't it possible that animal diseases could cross over to become carried by humans through this method?

i don't agree with killing more animals just to sustain overpopulation...

I think that any transplantation of this sort should be watched very carefully -- we already
have way too many instances of diseases being transferred between animals&humans.

Same comments I made before this was qualified - 1. Xenotransplantation refers to cross-species transplantation, not simply animal to human. and 2. It absolutely IS possible right now, and in fact has been done quite a bit. Don't you remember YEARS ago when the baboon heart was transplanted into a man? Granted, he didn't live long, but it has been done. It annoys me that this was qualified.

I don't know much about this, but I believe I would be in favor of it as long as the donor animals were treated well and killed humanely.

Very - By "not possible" I think vos meant that it hasn't managed to sustain a recipient's life by a significant length of time, not that it couldn't be done at all. Is that what annoys you? I think you should cut him a break on the semantics since English is not his first language. And it's probably only animal organs to humans that is being debated, so why clutter the explanation?

SueBee: thanx, that is *exactely* what I meant. Transplantation from an animal to a human has been done, but indeed it never sustained like it has from a human to a human. And even in the latter case it still can go wrong. And the public debate in The Netherlands is about transplantation from animals to humans, so I didnīt bother about voting for the other way around.

If they can get it to work, I think a lot of people will be happy to take the animal organ. I think the biggest problem will be that rich folks will still insist on getting only human parts, rather than taking what they're given.

I believe that pig heart valves are already used to replace human valves with a high rate of success.

I wouldn't want animal parts in me, but if it is the only was to save a person and it doesn't do them more harm, then I guess it is ok.

while i think the benefits are strong, care must be taken to treat the unwilling 'donors' well, and not to kill/maim them for the sake of the operations. obviously, i'm more in favour of 'growing' additional organs or taking one of multiples than outright yankingthe heart out of an animal.
i fear most people interested in accomplishing these transplants won't been too concerned. or will only be concerned about primate 'donors' (eg baboons) and callous towards others; one reason pigs have been suggested is based in the argument that they are already bred for slaughter. to me, basing an argument on a negative foundatation calls into question the direction of the entire 'advance'

i dunno what they mean im babysitting my little nephew i dont care about pork gutz

I am against this idea. WE ARE NOT ANIMALS. Human beings and animals cannot be crossed. I think technology is going a bit too far. Technology, at times,is evil. It is trying to play God.

Jeanne, pig heart valves have been used successfully for years in heart patients. It is not about crossing humans with animals. No one is suggesting that we cross pigs with humans and create a new hybrid creature. It is a question of utilizing animal organs when human organs are not available.

jeanne: Technology is morally neutral until it's applied. It's only good or evil when it's used for good or evil.

Twist: Exactly. Think of those poor kids who die while still near the bottom of the transplant list.

........and good and evil are basically just perceptions of each individual. What might seem evil to one may seem good to someone else.

Brian & mandy - Good points!

I'm in favour, but I think a better solution would be to encourage more people to become organ donors.
Let the human race look after itself rather than sacrificing others!

I don't want a piggy heart in my chest...don't think I'd like it.

lonxedosol: Would you rather die than have a piggy heart? I guess it would depend on how old you were and how full your life had been. I think if I had children, I'd take anything!

I have a feeling that my opinion would be different if I was facing this situation more personally but on a purely abstract level I disagree with it. There is something about this and other extraordinary means that seems so very unnatural, add to this a distrust of the medical profession in general and that is my gut level instinctual response.

Ahhhh! This just makes me so frustrated.

mary - Just take a deep breath. You'll be okay.