Religious Perspectives Regarding the Ethical Issues Associated With Clinical Xenotransplantation

Abstract

Background: As xenotransplantation advances toward clinical trials, viewpoints from various segments of society are continually needed to engage the public and to inform the prospective clinical trials. As the majority of the world's population identifies with a religious tradition, religious perspectives regarding the ethical issues associated with clinical xenotransplantation are an important element to take into account.

Methods: At the 2024 Congress of The Transplantation Society in Istanbul, Türkiye, a group of religious scholars from Catholicism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hinduism, Shia Islam, Judaism, Protestant Christianity, and the African American religious traditions met together to discuss viewpoints toward xenotransplantation from their respective religious tradition. Additional contributions were received from representatives from the American Anglican Episcopal Church and Sunni Islam faith traditions.

Results: Each speaker presented viewpoints on the ethical issues associated with clinical xenotransplantation from their own religious perspective. Common issues that were raised include the treatment and stewardship of animals, xenozoonotic infection and other risks, while religious dictums of particular relevance for each faith tradition were noted.

Conclusion: Overall, none of the participants considered xenotransplantation to be impermissible within their religious tradition. Yet, it is important to note that persons of religious faith may come to different conclusions from their coreligionists about the permissibility of xenotransplantation as a personal choice or as spokespersons for others of their faith. Additional empirical viewpoint data from each religious tradition will be helpful to further inform normative views and measure the impact of public education. As xenotransplantation continues to advance to the clinic, continued exploration of religious perspectives is needed to best support individual decision-making and optimize patient-centered care.

Keywords: ethics; organ transplantation; religion; xenotransplantation.