Xenotransplantation. Summary

The transplantation of animal organs into humans – xenotransplantation – has been under discussion for several years as a future supplement or even alternative to human organ donation. Besides the understandable (although not uncontested) hopes, there have been plausible warnings of real and possibly difficult-to-control risks of infection to patients, their environment and ultimately the entire population. This contradictory and tense situation and the still largely unresolved potential of xenotransplantation require a sober review of the position and unbiased assessment at all levels of society.
This publication delivers a summary of a report commissioned by the Committee for Education, Research and Technology Assessment. It provides an overview of the international discussion and, above all, of the (research and health) policy debate on the prospects for and challenges of xenotransplantation, essays a review of the current state of scientific and medical research, outlines the legal situation in Germany and central ethical issues and uses this as a basis to draw up suggestions for further scientific, political and social debate and need for action. ... mehrThe report deals with xenotransplantation of discrete organs, but not of tissues or cells. (See below for the full report in German)