Project outline for the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage

Page tells me required url params are missing, but the url is shown and no required params are missing. Maybe a different error that hasn't been handled correctly?

Re: Project outline for the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage

#7

Post by viraptor » Fri, Jun 28, 2013, 8:26 AM UTC

I'm interested to know how does the anaesthetic work in this case. It wasn't mentioned in details (or maybe I missed it), but since most substances are transferred in blood stream how would they go about it? Wouldn't reconnection to another body completely mess up the process? Or maybe the temperature drop would be enough to keep the current state.

Either way - in happy to hear how close we are to the world of yesterday's science fiction.

Re: Project outline for the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage

#8

Post by shin_lao » Fri, Jun 28, 2013, 8:34 AM UTC

I'm not sure I see the point. It's already extremly difficult to transplant one organ and make it last, so a whole body?

Maybe as temporary measure while massive (deadly?) treatments are performed on the original body?

Last but not least, if you transplant a head on a new body and this new body has children, whose children are they? Is our identity only in the head?

Re: Project outline for the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage

#9

Post by Narretz » Fri, Jun 28, 2013, 8:46 AM UTC

shin_lao wrote: post #8

I'm not sure I see the point. It's already extremly difficult to transplant one organ and make it last, so a whole body? Maybe as temporary measure while massive (deadly?) treatments are performed on the original body? Last but not least, if you transplant a head on a new body and this new body has children, whose children are they? Is our identity only in the head?

I can imagine people that are paralyzed from the neck would want to participate in such an operation. "Donors" would be people that have are brain-dead with intact bodies. However, current organ donor rules probably do not regulate the donation of your body as a whole ... That said, such an operation probably will not play a big role in the future treating such crippling injuries.

Re: Project outline for the first human head transplantation with spinal linkage

#10

Post by tinco » Fri, Jun 28, 2013, 8:47 AM UTC

shin_lao wrote: post #8

I'm not sure I see the point. It's already extremly difficult to transplant one organ and make it last, so a whole body? Maybe as temporary measure while massive (deadly?) treatments are performed on the original body? Last but not least, if you transplant a head on a new body and this new body has children, whose children are they? Is our identity only in the head?

You are not transplanting a whole body, you are transplanting a head. If this paper is to be believed, there is a smaller risk of a hyperallergenic reaction for some reason. IANAD, but maybe it's because the head has no organs in the sense that it doesn't contribute to the production/purification of blood.

There's all kinds of afflictions that might threaten your life but not your head, from cancer that's spread to a critical organ to blunt trauma to any critical trauma. If something destroys your body, this might be the last and only solution.

The children will be biologically of the new body you have. I don't think anyone has written a law on this yet, but I suppose the children will be legally yours, and yours to raise and culture :)

Most of our identities is in our heads, though some things linked to your character are linked with things in your body. Perhaps your appetite is, and perhaps your preference for sporting/outdoor/indoor activities. I bet a lot of this is not yet well known or researched, and the world would be very intrigued by how you feel about things after the surgery!