Show and Tell, Human Head Transplant

            Going off from my show and tell presentation on Tuesday about the head transplant. Many people are extremely curious to find out if this operation will be a success. To recap some details, the head neurosurgeon is Dr. Sergio Canavero, the operation will last about 36 hours, and there are about 150 doctors, nurses, and medical staff that are required for the operation. This operation is planned to take place in December 2017.

            The man who is undergoing the surgery is a Russian man named Valery Spiridonov. He has a rare genetic disorder called Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. This disease causes motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord to die off. This results in diminished muscle mass and paralysis. He will be taking the body of another brain-dead patient.

            There are obviously huge pros and cons about this operation. On the pros side, one can argue that this surgery might give someone a better quality of life, advance society’s medical abilities, and pave the way for new medical discoveries. On the cons side, one can argue that there are some serious ethical issues associated with this surgery, this surgery can potentially be a “waste of money” if it is unsuccessful, and that society should be focusing on dealing with the current diseases and cancers in the world rather than taking a huge jump with trying to replace a human head.

            There have been some animal studies conducted, however these studies are inconclusive. I have heard that some of these experiments have been successful, and I have heard that some of the experiments have been unsuccessful. Will this surgery work out? Will this neurosurgeon be able to successfully place someone else’s head on another person’s body? These are all questions that people want answered.

            Now, there is the ethical side to this surgery. If this man’s head is placed on another person’s body, then it will essentially be one person controlling another person’s body. If this man chooses to have children, then his children will have the original body’s DNA and genetic makeup. Although any actions completed by the new body will be accredited to the Russian man who took over the body. So, the body will have its own specific DNA and physical appearance, however the identity will be the Russian man’s.

            If this surgery is a success, then it will greatly increase the advancement of modern medicine. It will also lead to the advancement in medical education too, but this is a long-shot that is considered to have very low chances of success. Also, if this surgery works, then another issue will arise that deals with what determines who will get a body and who will be able to undergo the surgery because this is an extremely expensive and physically demanding surgery. What will decide if one person gets the surgery versus another. Financial status will definitely play a huge role in this choice, but it will still be a matter of concern for those who are paralyzed or do not have a functioning body. 

https://youtu.be/Nr8ru47Rnjs