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Brain Transplants Case Study

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The Oxford dictionary definition of a transplant is to ‘take a living tissue or an organ and implant it in another part of the body or in another body. [1]’ I will be exploring the possibilities of human brain transplants, including the psychological effects, the ethics behind a brain transplant and the reasons why someone would want to have one. Covered will be possible challenges and complications such as difference in the tissue and blood type and what tools are needed to perform such an operation. Included in this essay will be a case study on Dr. Sergio Canavero who is looking to perform the world first head transplant on Valery Spiridonov who suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman disease. One question I will be looking at is if someone with brain …show more content…

Also, scientists do not currently possess the equipment that is needed to reattach the spinal cord, cranial nerves, veins and the four main arteries which supply the brain. These arteries are the internal carotid arteries, which branch off to form the two major cerebral arteries: the anterior and middle cerebral arteries and the left and right vertebral arteries, forming the basilar artery. [2] At this moment, human brain/head transplants are very far away from being possible, but they may be possible in the future with further technological advances. The largest obstacle during these transplants is the ability to connect the nerves from the transplanted brain to the donor body’s spinal cord. This is obviously difficult and severe spinal cord injuries are usually so disastrous and permanent because this connection of the nerves is broken. If brain transplants were possible in the future, the identity of the person may change and be more like the identity of the donor of the brain. [3] This is because it is unlike a normal transplant, such as a transplanted heart, but the brain is where memory, identity and personality are all stored, so the outcomes may be …show more content…

These proteins are known as ‘Id proteins’ which are highly abundant in the cells of many different types of cancer, including brain, breast cancer and paediatric tumours, and they are known to promote tumour growth and assist in the spread of cancer. While searching for ways to kill the Id cells, they discovered the surprising neuron-healing properties of Id proteins. Their initial findings, published in the Nature paper, found that an enzyme inside normal cells called APC is what usually degrades Id proteins soon after they're produced by normal cells, but cancerous cells show a very high level of Id proteins. They also examined the Id protein potential for promoting growth, so they are attempting to use the power of Id proteins to stimulate growth of axons, which are the structures on neurons responsible for transmitting electrical signals between the brain and spinal cord. But to do this they needed to overcome the APC enzymes, which degrade the protein in normal cells. This therapy would not cause cancer in the brain or spinal cord, this is because neurons have completely lost the ability to create new cells in adults, so there's no danger of creating a tumour and so regenerating their axons is the only growth they can do.

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In Miriam Schulman’s essay, “Kidneys for Sale: A Reconsideration,” published on the Markkula Center website in April of 2012 discusses the importance of Kidney Transplants. Schulman is able to accomplish something that is valued in persuasive writing. She is able to express all perspectives on the selling of organs more especially the Kidney. The author gives factual evidence to back up certain claims within the piece. Schulman purpose of this essay is to inform the reader about Kidney transplants and all that comes with it.

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A unique approach to explain a controversial topic that is not discussed as much as it should. The story was first published all the way back in 1988 by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and was post on the website ten years later. Currently, the topic of organ transplants, specifically kidneys, are not discussed as much as hearts and lungs. Schulman manages to create a non-persuasive story that focuses on all the common thoughts that are taken into consideration when discussing organ selling. Her use of rhetorical techniques was very important because of this type of writing.

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In Dinesh D’Souza’s “Staying Human”, D’Souza contemplates the technological advances of the biotech revolution. He considers the effects of this revolution, through its benefits and hindrances upon society. D’Souza also contemplates the role parents will play in this society. Because of advances in biotechnology, parents assume the role of creator and attempt to design children according to their will. When utilizing biotechnology, parents determine the values they believe constitutes a “model Child” and attempt to assume the role of creator.

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(Varley 1988, 318-319). Dr. Schaller’s ethical concerns eventually led to his attempts to deny transplant requests.

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An example of the negative mental side effects of receiving a transplant would be best shown in the case of Cyrus Finch, who received a complete temporal lobe (Shusterman 126) which deals with emotional association (Smith 21). This leads him to steal without reason and causes him to feel things that he himself should not feel (Shusterman 138-139). In cases like his, the person’s issues highly resemble a new type of dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, where a person’s personality seems to split into two distinct personas (“Dissociative Identity Disorder”). Even without receiving a brain piece, the people who receive transplants are still faced with the life of the unwound teen. This is made apparent when the Admiral gathers all who were given parts from Harlan Dunfee.

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The text is directed toward medical personnel because it causes them to question, “what if”, organ sales legalized or what would they gain from this legalization? His article is also directed towards people in need of an organ, and organ donors. Gregory is successful when he uses logical, emotional and ethical tactics to persuade his audience on why organ sales would be beneficial. Some logical tactics Gregory uses to persuade his audience is giving the number of how many people die waiting for a transplant. He states, “...there are only about 20,000

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1520 Words | 7 Pages

On June 17, 1950, at Little Company of Mary Hospital, the very first semi-successful organ transplant was preformed (“First Successful Organ Transplant”). Ruth Tucker, who dealt with polycystic kidneys, was the recipient of this organ transplant (“First Successful Organ Transplant”). The surgery lacked standard anti-infection drugs and tissue typing but was still somewhat of a success for the brave doctors and patient (“First Successful Organ Transplant”). Shortly after the surgery, an article in Newsweek titled “Borrowed from the Dead” came out

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These events have raised many ethical, moral and societal issues regarding supply, the methods of organ allocation, the use of living donors as volunteers including minors.² Due to the high costs of organ transplants, most patients use a combination of sources. Some patients can finance the transplant procedure through their primary insurance coverage and use savings and other private funds to pay for other expenses. Many patients work with community fundraising groups to complete their transplant financial strategy.² The costs of an organ transplant will vary for each patient, based on insurance coverage, the type of transplant and the location of the transplant center. Patients will also have a lifetime of medical expenses for follow-up care and

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737 Words | 3 Pages

5-Prepare the new generation of transplant physicians and surgeons. In conclusion, Organ donation is a subject of controversy between societies in west and east. In order to implement this program efficiently and avoid the high rates of refusals we need a core cultural development. This development will revolve around changing the mentality of the members of a society while giving them the feeling of social responsibility. Finally since we are living in an islamic society, we have the priority to succeed in this program by following what god says, ”Whosoever saves the life of one person it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.”

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1122 Words | 5 Pages

Unit 1: Organ Donation Name: Kayden Mataafa Class: HED121A Introduction Organ donation within Australia is something society neglects, many barriers prevent Australians from knowing about donation, and how to go about donating. Organ donation is a life-saving and life-transforming medical process. Organ and tissue donation involves removing organs and tissues from someone who has died (a donor) and transplanting them into someone who, in many cases, is very ill or dying (a recipient) (Donatelife.gov.au, 2018). A donor within Australia cannot decide individually on whether they can or want to donate, in the end the family are always the final deciders in matters regarding organ donation. The purpose of this task is to incorporate the Ottawa

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The brain is the most complex and magnificent organ of the human body. It controls the muscle movements, the secretions of glands,breathing and internal temperature. Every creative thought, feeling, and plan is developed by the brain. The brain acts as the body’s control center. The human brain can be divided into the forebrain, mid-brain and hind-brain.

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Although I was fortunate to be able to keep my mind it will be an adjustment to have this new body. Ryle’s explained to me how mind can still function even if my body has died. This has helped me feel more confident that after my accident that I will be able to live a “normal” life. I have concluded that my situation is unique and I can use my experience to help further philosophical ideas. As the first person to have a mind

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In the United States alone, 19 people die every day waiting on an organ transplant that could have saved their lives. The only solution to this problem is getting more drivers registered as organ donors. It has been proposed that the states automatically register their drivers as donors and it is up to the drivers to go through the procedure of opting out if that is what they wish. I agree with this proposal because you still have the freedom to make your choice but most people would not want to go through the process of opting out, so the number of organ donors would be greatly increased.

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More than 120,000 people died last year while waiting for a donor, donation of organs costs nothing (“Why be an Organ Donor”). Becoming an organ donor opens up various options such as organ donation or body donation. Body donation is where the bodies will be given to universities or schools around America, where the students of medicine department will do research on the body to figure out why the organ failed (“Body Donor Program”). The body will not be presented to the public and after it is researched it will be cremated and returned to the family as ash 's (“Body Donor Program”). With that being said some of the organs will be perfect to donate, but some may not meet all the requirements for donation , such as correct blood types, free of sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, and mental health issues ( "Saving Lives and Giving Hope by Reducing the Organ Waiting

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Organ donation is currently the only successful way of saving the lives of patients with organ failure and other diseases that require a new organ altogether. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services there is currently 122,566 patients both actively and passively on the transplant list. This number will continue to increase, in fact, every ten minutes another person is added to the list. Unfortunately, twenty-two of these people die while waiting for an organ on a daily basis. Each day, about eighty Americans receive a lifesaving organ transplant.

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