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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFirst human head transplant could happen in two years
New Scientist:The idea was first proposed in 2013 by Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group in Italy. He wants to use the surgery to extend the lives of people whose muscles and nerves have degenerated or whose organs are riddled with cancer. Now he claims the major hurdles, such as fusing the spinal cord and preventing the body's immune system from rejecting the head, are surmountable, and the surgery could be ready as early as 2017.
Canavero plans to announce the project at the annual conference of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons (AANOS) in Annapolis, Maryland, in June. Is society ready for such momentous surgery? And does the science even stand up?
The first attempt at a head transplant was carried out on a dog by Soviet surgeon Vladimir Demikhov in 1954. A puppy's head and forelegs were transplanted onto the back of a larger dog. Demikhov conducted several further attempts but the dogs only survived between two and six days.
Okay...where do you get the more functional body?
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)The advantage to this form is obvious. One can hold two Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters, one for each mouth, while simultaneously gesturing.
Initech
(100,100 posts)House of Roberts
(5,182 posts).
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)mmonk
(52,589 posts)House of Roberts
(5,182 posts)I would say being Sarah Palin would result in significant amounts of self-generated poison and bile, resulting in a very internally diseased vessel.
Reter
(2,188 posts)Do you get a choice of what body to go in?
randome
(34,845 posts)We should secure the supply before they become extinct.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]If you think childhood is finished, you didn't do it right the first time.
Start over.[/center][/font][hr]
Bad Thoughts
(2,531 posts)... only one rich guy is going to benefit from organ donations. Welcome luxury medicine.
sarisataka
(18,769 posts)when will they perfect the surgery to remove a head firmly lodged in its own rectum?
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)It's not a "body transplant for a head", it's a "head transplant for a body".
It makes the organ donor form a bit odd. You get the choice of donating your organs individually or just opting to receive head.
randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]
Logical
(22,457 posts)Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)I view this as science fiction, and I am not sure how it could pass any ethics review committee!!!
IDemo
(16,926 posts)Because something becomes achievable does not necessarily make it a good idea. This is an utterly ludicrous concept.