Bioethics

Xenotransplantation: For and Against

by Ololade Olakanmi and Laura Purdy

Organ transplantation saves thousands of lives every year, and is arguably one of the most significant medical innovations of the past century. At present however, the worldwide demand for organs far outstrips supply. For instance, in 2004, the United Network for Organ Sharing (United States) found that over 100,000 patients could have benefited from an organ transplant, whereas only 29,000 were available. In the US, 17 patients die each day while on the organ donor waiting list – a dismal statistic which, unfortunately reflects a global trend. In an effort to satisfy the growing demand for organs, the scientific community is once again turning to xenotransplantation, a cutting-edge medical technique that involves the transplantation of biological material from nonhuman animals (primarily pigs) to humans.

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