Ethics and Theoretical Issues in Kidney Xenotransplantation

Ethical and legislative advances in xenotransplantation for clinical translation: focusing on cardiac, kidney and islet cell xenotransplantation

“…The ensuing centuries saw sporadic and largely unsuccessful attempts at xenotransplantation, with frequent instances of graft rejection and infections that further tempered enthusiasm for the field ( 18 – 20 ). Moreover, as medical ethics evolved and animal welfare concerns gained prominence, the scientific community was challenged to grapple with the significant ethical implications of these procedures, especially when it came to the use of animals involved in the pre-clinical trials and as a source of organs, tissues and cells for transplantation into humans ( 6 ).…”

“…However, with this promise comes a complex web of ethical considerations and legal frameworks that must be carefully navigated to ensure the responsible and ethical translation of xenotransplantation from the laboratory to the clinic. With this we must ensure that the same endemic issues do not occur with xenotransplantation that have occurred with human organ transplantation such as xenotransplant tourism ( 5 ) and unethical processes used to make profits at the expense of the animals used and the patients that may be misled into undertaking unapproved procedures ( 6 ).…”

“…Historically, xenotransplantation has faced significant challenges, including the perceived/potential for the transmission of diseases from animals to humans (xenozoonosis) ( 7 ), concerns over animal welfare (when breeding and producing the donor animals) ( 8 ), cultural and religious issues particularly the notion of crossing species boundaries in the use of their tissues for transplantation ( 6 ). These challenges led to the imposition of strict regulations along with embargos and a nuanced ethical debate that continues to shape the direction of the field.…”

Xenotransplantation literature update March 2021–March 2023

“…The perception surrounding xenotransplantation has undergone notable fluctuations in the past 19,20 . Given the recent advancements and widespread reporting of its clinical applications, it is imperative to understand the perspectives of the public and patients alike—particularly prior to the initiation of clinical trials.…”

“…The perception surrounding xenotransplantation has undergone notable fluctuations in the past. 19,20 Given the recent advancements and widespread reporting of its clinical applications, it is imperative to understand the perspectives of the public and patients alikeparticularly prior to the initiation of clinical trials. Encouragingly, most patients with renal disease reported they would accept a xenotransplant with a function comparable to that of an allograft, though fewer would accept a xenograft with inferior function or as a bridge to allotransplantation.…”