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Review
. 2020 Oct;25(5):483-488.
doi: 10.1097/MOT.0000000000000796.

Ethical considerations in xenotransplantation: a review

Nezerith Cengiz  1 , Christopher Simon Wareham
Affiliations
Review

Ethical considerations in xenotransplantation: a review

Nezerith Cengiz et al. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to present and analyse recent literature on the patterns, trends, and developments of ethical considerations concerning xenotransplantation by appraising normative aspects within a coherent framework.

Recent findings: Developments within xenotransplantation may soon allow for pig-to-human xenotransplantation to take place. Ethical analysis of xenotransplantation commonly follows an anthropocentric cost-benefit analysis, which may imprecisely measure costs. Xenotransplantation should not merely be approached from an anthropocentric perspective. Rather, the potential risks presented to human and nonhuman donors, recipients, and third parties should all be thoroughly considered.

Summary: The range of feasible alternatives to xenotransplantation to increase organ supply should be examined before resorting to xenotransplantation because of the moral distinction between imposing certain risks on others before, or after, alternative solutions have been exhausted.

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