Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T09:39:33.345Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Should we Add “Xeno” to “Transplantation”?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2016

Laura Purdy
Laura Purdy*
Affiliation:
Wells College, USA
Get access

Abstract

Proponents of xenotransplantation hope that it will provide organs to fill the gap between the demand for and supply of organs for transplant. The scientific obstacles to transplanting animal organs into humans are daunting, as are the moral, political, and policy issues. Among them are concerns about animal rights and welfare, patient acceptance and informed consent, and broader public health issues, such as the cost-efficient deployment of scarce resources and the risk of disease in third parties. The latter is, in my view, the most immediately urgent issue. Pigs, the current animal of choice, carry many bacterial and viral pathogens, and it is currently impossible to assess the risk of disease to human populations. Because of this risk, a moratorium on xenotransplantation is necessary to protect public health; it is also questionable whether the technology, if successful, would be the most cost-effective way to promote health.

Type
Xenotransplantation
Information
Politics and the Life Sciences , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , September 2000 , pp. 247 - 259
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Politics and the Life Sciences 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation (1997). Animal Tissue into Humans. London: Department of Health.Google Scholar
“Animal Lab Shuts Down after We Reveal Horrors.” (2000). Daily Express (September 28). Available atwww.xenodiaries.org.Google Scholar
Bach, F.H., Fishman, J.A., Daniels, N., Proimos, J., Anderson, B., Carpenter, C.B., Forrow, L., Robson, S.C., and Fineberg, H.V. (1998) “Uncertainty in Xenotransplantation: Individual Benefit Versus Collective Risk.” Nature Medicine 4:141–4.Google Scholar
Bailey, L.L., Nehlsen-Cannarella, S.L., Concepcion, W., and Jolley, W.B. (1985). “Baboon-to-Human Cardiac Xenotransplantation in a Neonate.” Journal of the American Medical Association 24 (December 20):3321–9.Google Scholar
Beddard, S. and Lyons, D. (1996). “A Brief History of Xenotransplantation.” In The Science and Ethics of Xenotransplantation. Sheffield: Uncaged Campaigns; www.uncaged.co.uk.Google Scholar
Berger, A.H. and Lamont, G. (1999). “Animal Organs Won't Solve the Transplant Shortage.” USA Today 128 (November):56–7.Google Scholar
Bosch, X. (2000). “Xenotransplantation Promising in Parkinson's Disease.” The Lancet 355 (March 18):991.Google Scholar
Butel, J.S., and Lednicky, J.A. (1999). “Cell and Molecular Biology of Simian Virus 40: Implications for Human Infections and Disease.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute 91 (January 20):119–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butler, D. (1998). “Briefing: Xenotransplantation.” Nature 391 (January):320–5.Google Scholar
Canadian Public Health Association. (2000). ABC's of Xeno. November 16. Available atwww.xeno.cpha.ca/english/ABCs/page1.htm.Google Scholar
Chapman, L.E., Folks, T.M., Salomon, D. R., Patterson, A. P., Eggerman, T. E., and Noguchi, P. D. (1995). “Xenotransplantation and Xenogeneic Infections.” New England Journal of Medicine 333 (November 30): 1498–501.Google Scholar
Chen, G., Ushida, T., and Tateishi, T. (2000). “Hybrid Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering: A Preparative Method for PLA or PLGA-Collagen Hybrid Sponges.” Advanced Materials 12:455–57.Google Scholar
Clark, M.A. (1999). “This Little Piggy Went to Market: The Xenotransplantation and Xenozoonose Debate.” The Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics 27 (Summer): 137–52.Google Scholar
Collignon, P. (1998). “Xenotransplantation: Do the Risks Outweigh the Benefits?” Medical Journal of Australia 168 (May 18):516–19.Google Scholar
Collignon, P. (1999). “Transplants from Pigs.” Letter. Science 286 (December 3):1853.Google Scholar
Collignon, P. and Purdy, L. (2001). “Xenografts: Are the Risks So Great that We Should Not Proceed?” Microbes and Infection 3/4:341–8.Google Scholar
Conly, J.M. (1998). “The New and Emerging Area of Xenozoonoses.” Canadian Journal of Infectious Disease 9 (September/October): 262–63.Google Scholar
Connor, S. (1999). “Pig Tissue May Be Used to Treat Parkinson's.” The Independent (October 26). Available atwww.independent.co.uk/news/UK/Health/1999/parkinson261099.shtml.Google Scholar
Cooper, D.K.C. and Lanza, R.P. (2000). Xeno: The Promise of Transplanting Animal Organs into Humans. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Costanza, R. and Cornwell, L. (1992). “The 4P Approach to Dealing with Scientific Uncertainty.” Environment 34 (November).Google Scholar
Cranor, C.F. (1999). “Asymmetric Information, the Precautionary Principle, and Burdens of Proof.” In Raffensperger, C. and Ticknor, J. (eds.), Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Washington, DC: Island Press.Google Scholar
Daar, A.S. (1998). “Analysis of Factors for the Prediction of the Response to Xenotransplantation.” In Fishman, J., Sachs, D., and Shaikh, R. (eds.), Xenotransplantation: Scientific Frontiers and Public Policy. New York: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 862.Google Scholar
Davis, D. L., Axelrod, D., Osborne, M.P., and Telang, N.T. (1997). “Environmental Influences on Breast Cancer Risk,” Part 4: “Smoking Increases Breast Cancer Risk.” Science and Medicine 4 (May/June):56–63.Google Scholar
Donovan, J. (1993). “Animal Rights and Feminist Theory.” In Gaard, G. (ed.), Ecofeminism: Women, Animals, Nature. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.Google Scholar
Fox, M. (1986). The Case for Animal Experimentation. Berkeley: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Gao, F., Bailes, E., Robertson, D.L., Chen, Y., Rodenberg, C.M., Michael, S.F., Cummins, L.B., Arthur, L.O., Peeters, M., Shaw, G.M., Sharp, P.M., and Hahn, B. (1999). “Origin of HIV-1 in the Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes troglodytes” Nature 397 (February):436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garrett, L. (1994). The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.Google Scholar
Geiser, K. (1999). “Preface,” In Raffensperger, C. and Ticknor, J. (eds.), Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Washington, DC: Island Press.Google Scholar
Gruen, L. (1994). “Animals.” In Gruen, L. and Jamieson, D. (eds.), Reflecting on Nature: Readings in Environmental Philosophy. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
“Have a Pig's Heart?” (1997). Editorial. The Lancet 349 (January 25):219.Google Scholar
Health Canada (1999a). “Survey on Human Organ Donation and Xenotransplantation.” Therapeutic Products Programme. Ottawa, December 17. Available atwww.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb-dgps/therapeut/htmleng.Google Scholar
Health Canada (1999b). “Xenotransplantation.” Fact Sheet, Therapeutic Products Programme, Health Protection Branch. Available atwww.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb-dgps/therapeut/zfiles/english/fact-sht/fact_xeno_e.html.Google Scholar
Henderson, C.W. (1998). “Xenogenic Porcine Thymic Transplantation for the Treatment of AIDS.” Immunotherapy Weekly (August 24).Google Scholar
Hughes, J. (1998). “Xenografting: Ethical Issues.” Journal of Medical Ethics 24: 8–24.Google Scholar
Imutran and (1) Uncaged Campaigns Limited (2) Daniel Louis Lyons (2001). HC 0004406 (January 11). Available atwww.wood.ccta.gov.uk/courtser/judgements.nsf/6ff876ba66f8361a8025683c00411386/58a556a0bfd01f0d802569d7003d8fee/$FILE/chancery_imutran.htm; accessed 2/22/2001.Google Scholar
Johnston, L. and Calvert, J. (2000a). “Terrible Despair of Animals Cut Up in the Name of Research.” Daily Express (September 21). Available atwww.xenodiaries.org.Google Scholar
Johnston, L. and Calvert, J. (2000b). “Animal Tests Probe After We Expose Suffering.” Daily Express (September 22). Available atwww.xenodiaries.org.Google Scholar
Jordon, A. and O'Riordan, T. (1999). “The Precautionary Principle in Contemporary Environmental Policy and Politics.” In Raffensperger, C. and Ticknor, J. (eds.), Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Washington, DC: Island Press.Google Scholar
Kochlin, F. (1996). “The Heart of the Matter: Xenotransplantation and the Threat of New Diseases.” The Ecologist 26 (May/June):93–7.Google Scholar
Kurtz, K. (1998). “Organ Transplantation as a Community Issue: Concerns of a Grief Counselor Through a Feminist Bioethics Lens.” Paper presented at the Canadian Bioethics Society (October 16).Google Scholar
Langley, G. and D'Silva, J. (1998). Animal Organs in Humans. London: British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and Compassion in World Farming.Google Scholar
Larson, E. (1998). “The Flu Hunters.” Time (Canadian Edition). (February 23): 32–4.Google Scholar
Lessons from Wingspread (1999). Appendix. In Raffensperger, C. and Ticknor, J. (eds.), Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Washington, DC: Island Press.Google Scholar
Littlefield, C., Abbey, S., Fiducia, D., Cardella, C., Greig, P., Levy, G., Maurer, J., and Winton, T. (1996). “Quality of Life Following Transplantation of the Heart, Liver, and Lungs.” General Hospital Psychiatry 18:36S–46S.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lorber, B. (1996). “Are All Diseases Infectious?” Annals of Internal Medicine 125 (November 15):844–51.Google Scholar
Lorenz, C. and Schafer, B.M. (1999). “Recontructing a Urinary Bladder.” Nature Biotechnology (February 17):133.Google Scholar
Marwick, C. (1996). “British, American Reports on Xenotransplantation.” Journal of the American Medical Association 275:589–90.Google Scholar
McArdle, J. (1998). “Xenotransplantation: An Opportunity to Promote Alternatives.” AV Magazine (Fall):6–9.Google Scholar
Mohacsi, P.J., Blumer, C.E., Quine, S., and Thompson, J.F. (1995). “Aversion to Xenotransplantation.” Nature 378 (November 30):434.Google Scholar
Mohacsi, P.J., Thompson, J.F., Nicholson, J.K., and Tiller, D.J. (1997). “Patients' Attitudes to Xenotransplantation.” The Lancet 349 (April 5): 1031.Google Scholar
Murphy, F.A. (1996). “The Public Health Risk of Animal Organs and Tissue Transplantation into Humans.” Science 273 (August 9):746–7.Google Scholar
Mussivand, T. (1999). “Mechanical Circulatory Devices for the Treatment of Heart Failure.” Journal of Cardiac Surgery 14:218–28.Google Scholar
Nelson, J.L. (1992). “Transplantation Through a Glass Darkly.” Hastings Center Report 22 (September/October):6–8.Google Scholar
Nuffield Council on Bioethics (1996). Animal to Human Transplants: The Ethics of Xenotransplantation. London: Nuffield Council on Bioethics.Google Scholar
Paradis, J., Langford, G., Long, Z., Heneine, W., Sandstrom, P., Switzer, W.M., Chapman, L., Lockey, C., Onions, D., The XEN Study Group, and E. Otto (1999). “Search for Cross-Species Transmission of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus in Patients Treated with Living Pig Tissue.” Science 285:1236–41.Google Scholar
Raffensperger, C. and Ticknor, J., eds. (1999). Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Washington, DC: Island Press.Google Scholar
Sachs, D.H., Colvin, R.B., Cosimi, A.B., Russell, P.S., Sykes, M., McGregor, C.G.A., and Platt, J.L. (1998). “Xenotransplantation—Caution, But No Moratorium.” Letter. Nature Medicine 4 (April):372.Google Scholar
Santillo, D., Johnston, P., and Stringer, R. (1999). “The Precautionary Principle in Practice: A Mandate for Anticipatory Preventative Action.” In Raffensperger, C. and Ticknor, J., (eds.). Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Washington, DC: Island Press.Google Scholar
Singer, P. (1990). Animal Liberation. Second Edition. New York: New York Review of Books.Google Scholar
Snow, C.P. (1969). Two Cultures, and Second Look: An Expanded Version of “The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Originally published 1959.Google Scholar
Stephenson, J. (1995). “Xenotransplantation Workshop Ponders Science, Safety of Animal Tissue Grafts.” Journal of the American Medical Association 274 (July 26):285–7.Google Scholar
Ward, E. (1997). “Attitudes to Xenotransplantation.” The Lancet 349 (June 14): 1775.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ueno, T., Bergin, P., Richardson, M., Esmore, D.S. (2000). “Bridge to Recovery with a Left Ventricular Assist Device for Fulminant Acute Myocarditis.” Annals of Thoracic Surgery 69:284–6.Google Scholar
Uncaged Campaigns (2001). “Diaries of Despair: The Secret History of Pig to Primate Organ Transplants.” Posted atwww.xenodiaries.org.Google Scholar
United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority—UKXIRA (2001). Third Annual Report: September 1999–November 2000. Available atwww.doh.gov.uk/ukann3.htm.Google Scholar
United Nations (1992). “Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.” United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Reproduced atwww.accessexcellence.org/AB/IE/Rio_Declaration_On_Envirmt.html.Google Scholar
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (2001). “Xenotransplantation Action Plan.” Available atwww.fda.gov/cber/xap/xap.htm; accessed 2/25/01.Google Scholar
U.S. Public Health Service (2001). Guidelines on Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation. _Available atwww.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/xenophs0101.htm; accessed 2/25/2001.Google Scholar
Vanderpool, H.Y. (1998). “Critical Ethical Issues in Clinical Trials with Xenotransplants.” The Lancet 351 (May 2): 1347–9.Google Scholar
Watson, J.D. (1999). “All for the Good: Why Genetic Engineering Must Soldier On.” Time (January 11):71.Google Scholar
Weiss, R.A. (1998). “Transgenic Pigs and Virus Adaptation.” Nature 391:327–8.Google Scholar
Welin, S. (2000). “Starting Clinical Trials of Xenotransplantation—Reflections on the Ethics of the Early Phase.” Journal of Medical Ethics 26:231–6.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1997). Report of the WHO Consultation on Xenotransplantation. Geneva, Switzerland, October 28–30. Available atwww.who.int/emc-documents/zoonoses/docs/whoemczoo982.pdf.Google Scholar