Proceeding with clinical trials of animal-to-human organ transplantation. A way out of the dilemma

Abstract The transplantation of porcine organs to humans could in the future be a solution to the worldwide organ shortage, but is to date still highly experimental. Further research on the potential effects of crossing the species barrier is essential before clinical application is acceptable. However, many crucial questions on efficacy and safety will ultimately only be answered by well-designed and controlled solid organ xenotransplantation trials on humans. The question then rises of what conditions are necessary in order to resume clinical trials if risks of PERV-transmission cannot be excluded through pre-clinical models. An alternative means of overcoming the safety and ethical issues is: willed body donation for scientific research in the case of permanent vegetative status. In this paper the argument will be presented that conducting trials on such bodies with prior consent is preferable to the use of human subjects without lack of brain function.

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An Ravelingien Ph.D. is a fellow of the IEET, and an assistant researcher in bioethics at the Department of Philosophy, Ghent University.