Transplanting an animal organ inside a human sounds pretty easy, after all, human and animal organs should be pretty similar, and with all our amazing technology not a problem at all. As the need for organ donors increases, xenotransplantation begins to sound more and more attractive; it seems to be the miraculous, instant solution to our problems. While some rejoice over such a wonderful solution, others struggle to awaken us to the dangers of xenotransplantation, and show us just how harmful it can be. And so the debate over xenotransplantation becomes an issue of ethics. Is xenotransplantation good or bad? Is it ethical to put animal parts into human beings? What will result from the transplant of animal organs into human beings? Some fear a result of Frankenstein-like creatures, others speculate that this may elevate animals to the status of humans, and exactly how safe is safe? What kind of risks are we creating for the human population, and possibly for the animal population? Is the good we are creating through xenotransplantation good enough to outweigh all the possible bad effects of xenotransplantation? Many of these questions are still being explored, still we can try to explore them ethically as far as our knowledge extends.

Although xenotransplantation is possible, this does not mean it is safe or easy. No one has yet survived xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation is a highly attractive option due to the shortage of organ donors, but just because we can perform xenotransplantation, doesn't necessarily mean we should. Several large risks are involved in xenotransplantation, including hyper acute rejection, xenoretroviruses virolysis and, risks posed from trying to block other risks. Currently pigs and primates are being used in xenotransplantation. What kinds of things are transferred between the organs of these animals and our human bodies? Besides known risks, what other unknown risks do we face? What undiscovered issues will we face, not only now, but generations later? Suppose xenotransplantation actually did work, do we want animal organs and whatever those organs are bringing with them in our bodies?

According to an article written by Bach and Fineberg in the January 22, 1998 issue of Nature, those who must decide how ethical xenotransplantation is, and weather or not it should be used, are the general public. "Given the potential risk to the public, the issue is first and foremost an ethical one. Before introducing a regulatory framework driven by technical considerations, an informed public debate is needed so that the public can decide whether it wishes to consent to clinical xenotransplantation at all and, if so, under what conditions."

According to a poll carried out on behalf of the US National Kidney Foundation, more than three quarters of the US public would consider xenotransplantation for a loved one, if no human organ was available, and only 2 to 5 percent would completely rule out xenotransplantation. But how well informed are the American public? According to Decian Butler's article in the January 22, 1998 article of Nature, not very well informed. "Although two-thirds of the 1,200 people polled think that xenotransplantation research should continue, more than three-quarters have only "heard a little" about xenotransplantation, and only 15 percent had "heard a lot." And the opposition to xenotransplantation was strongest among those who were most well informed. However, 25 percent of those strongly opposed would still consider a transplant a last resort, if no other option were available. It is important to engage the public in learning and discussions about xenotransplantation, so they understand the ethics for subjects and patients, as well as the universal ethics of xenotransplantation.

Despite its many drawbacks, xenotransplantation holds an option for the future that should be explored, but explored responsibly. Xenotransplantation may not be available affordably or for years or available at all for years, but if xenotransplantation does work and take a foothold in our society, where will it go from there, and can we control it and its outcome? It is important to recognize the global dimension of xenotransplantation. The United States will not be the only country utilizing xenotransplantation, and if it is the first to utilize xenotransplantation, standards must be set. Daar writes in his article "Xenotransplants: Proceed with Caution," in March 5,1998's Nature magazine "Recognizing and responding to this global dimension of the risk calls for interdisciplinary and international dialogue to harmonize guidelines, research, surveillance methods and response in case of adverse outcomes. National registries will need to be compatible, and archived tissue perhaps accessible to scientists from other countries."

At the moment, xenotransplantation has many risks, and unanswered question. While it may be a viable option in the future, it seems best that we stay wary of where xenotransplantation is taking us, and what all of its outcomes are.