Ethics of Xenotransplantation

Extract

In January 1995 the Nuffield Council on Bioethics set up a working party which produced a well-balanced report in March 1996 entitled Animal-to-Human Transplants: the Ethics of Xenotransplantation. In September 1995, the Government set up its own advisory group which has now produced its own report and this has been published together with the Government's response to the issue. There are many areas of agreement between the two reports but they do differ in emphasis and coverage of various topics. Significantly, both agree that protection under The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for animals bred for xenotransplantation purposes needs to be extended. Together, the two reports provide an extremely detailed investigation into the controversial issues involved in xenotransplantation.