IF THE thought of accepting a donated organ from a golden retriever or a ginger tabby leaves you cold, you are in the minority. Researchers in Queensland have found that most people will happily accept cells and tissues from a dog or cat if it means a cure for their disease - but only if the animal is bred expressly for xenotransplantation.
SMH 23 Jan 2008
Successful xenotransplantation is a modern miracle. Changes in consumer sentiment in favour of such procedures should be welcomed. But there are ethical issues to consider. What animals would not be appropriate, and why? Are animals bred for xenotransplantation free from human-inflicted pain and suffering? Are there unforseen or hidden medical risks? Is there an acceptable limit for human-animal medical experimentation beyond which it is wrong to go? What about using animals for non-essential or cosmetic surgery? Why do so few people donate organs for transplantation (which strengthens the market for certain animal organs)? If xenotransplantation is acceptable, what makes human-animal embryo experimentation unacceptable to many?
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