Getting a head in China

Mary Shelley   (Public Domain)

Italian doctor Sergio Canavero has tried to convince Americans and Europeans to allow the world’s first “head transplant” (technically “body transplant”) to be performed. But to no avail.

So Dr. Canavero headed over to China, and is scheduled to perform this surgery there soon.  Will this be medical heaven and/or ethical hell?  It seems we’re about to find out.

The recipient (head) and donor (body) are thus far anonymous. The donor will be so-called “brain-dead,” and the recipient will have an allegedly disease-free head, but a severely compromised body.

The theory behind this is somewhat similar to that within Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  Shelley long ago wrote:  …perhaps the component parts of a creature might be manufactured, brought together and embued with vital warmth.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/doctor-says-first-human-head-transplant-imminent/ar-BBF4Wrg?OCID=ansmsnnews11