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Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

irishtimes.com

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Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#391

Post by Beltalowda »

jostmey wrote: post #8
phnofive wrote: post #2

Discussed here fifteen days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29882912 Not a huge update but an interesting discussion of FDA approval; can the FDA actually stop or sanction experimental procedures like this?

Yes, the FDA will insert itself to regulate medicine wherever it can. For example, the FDA has been pushing to regulate diagnostic tests as medical devices. It’s funny how Americans surrender medical autonomy to the government but draw a strict line in the sand in other issues

> For example, the FDA has been pushing to regulate diagnostic tests as medical devices.

I assume you mean COVID home tests and things like that? Call me strange, but if I buy such a thing then I'd like to make sure it's held to some standard of accuracy and safety. I do not have the resources or knowledge to find this out myself. Most people don't, and you can't just rely on "internet reviews" or the like.

Someone has to do this, and while the FDA and government authority may not be perfect, they're the best we've got, and we can at least somewhat hold them accountable through the democratic process (which also isn't perfect, but better than anything else we've got).

Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#392

Post by bobthechef »

wizzwizz4 wrote: post #326
FDSGSG wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Porcine heart valves are largely accepted by Islamic scholars in situations where there are no alternatives available.

Abortion is largely accepted by Catholic scholars if there is, otherwise, a high risk of death. That doesn't mean all Catholic medical practitioners would carry out such an operation. I don't think the respect is misplaced.

That is absolutely false and made clear in the Catechism (though abortion is, fundamentally, not a matter of faith, but of ethics, contrary to popular misconception). Abortion understood as the intentional killing of the unborn child, even in the case of high risk of death, is always gravely morally illicit and falls under murder. Even in the given circumstance, it would violate the principle of double effect.

Now, what is morally licit is not abortion, but also by virtue of the principle of double effect, a procedure intended to save the mother's life that unintentionally and as a side effect results in the child's death. For example, it is morally licit to extract the affected tissue with the implanted embryo during an ectopic pregnancy. This extraction will result in the death of the child, but the death was neither intended nor was the death of the child the means by which the mother's life was saved nor is saving the life of the mother a lesser good than the life of the child (though in this case, both would very likely have perished if this condition had been allowed to continue). Note that the situation must be proportionally grave, meaning you could not licitly perform such a procedure if the risk to the mother was not proportional (like experiencing headaches because of the pregnancy). In those cases, proportional care is permissible.

Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#393

Post by nottorp »

roywiggins wrote: post #133
dkjaudyeqooe wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The next logical step is to breed pigs with organs that especially suit humans, maybe with some genetic engineering to optimise them. I really can't see anyone needing an organ complaining that they're GMO. As long as we treat animals well while they're alive (and why wouldn't you, you want high quality low stress organs) then there's really no limit here, morally.

That's what they've done here, this are GMO pigs designed to be more compatible with human biology. > The heart transplanted into Mr. Bennett came from a genetically altered pig provided by Revivicor, a regenerative medicine company based in Blacksburg, Va. > The pig had 10 genetic modifications. Four genes were knocked out, or inactivated, including one that encodes a molecule that causes an aggressive human rejecti…

I now wonder if this guy will have to pay licensing costs for the copyright on the genes the rest of his (admittedly freshly prolonged) life...

Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#395

Post by sagarun »

sdenton4 wrote: post #13
oneepic wrote: post #4

Would have been interesting to hear what the feeling was like 2 weeks later (ie lethargic? walking alright? breathing well?) TFA only says he's alive "with his new heart beating soundly", which could mean a lot of things.

I think two weeks after heart surgery is never fun... A few days ago I noted that recovering from having your sternum broken open takes 6-8 weeks to be able to resume daily basic activities under the best circumstances.

The doctors want you walking (with help) as soon as possible after a heart transplant, unless something is horribly wrong.

Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#396

Post by sweetheart »

EugeneOZ wrote: post #387
inglor_cz wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The recipient is a non-Muslim, so no Sharia-related problems in his case. AFAIK it is not forbidden for a Muslim to touch pigs, only to eat them. Pigs and dogs are impure, but you can perform ablution afterwards. Muslims normally own hunting and guarding dogs. That would actually be a common problem for Coalition soldiers in Iraq when they tried to enter a village by stealth - lots of barking. "This impureness nevert…

I understand why pigs are “impure” (parasites in the meat), but why dogs?

Pigs are no more impure than dogs, fwiw. That belief is merely a result of having been raised in a culture that arbitrarily chooses to love dogs and cats and hate most other animals.

Dogs can be infested with parasites just as easily as pigs.

Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#397

Post by jolux »

JohnJamesRambo wrote: post #390
baldfat wrote: post #388

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a weird muscle disease that is treated with just taking over the counter L-Carnitine. The issue, vitamins and supplements are not regulated. So, I will try to take a new brand and after a few days my symptoms will come back because the pills don't have the L-Carnitine like it says and there is no one to make sure it does. It will cost me four to seven days of pain, and no one is held responsible. My best guess…

Do you have any proof the supplements don’t have l-carnitine? You should get a lawyer if so, that is an easy case against the supplement maker imo.

The whole supplements industry is like this. The best you can do is get one that’s USP certified.

Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#398

Post by werds »

causality0 wrote: post #347
goodguyamericun wrote: post #186

I just want to say huge respect for Dr Mohammad who despite his faith decided to do what is right. It might not be well known but most muslims are raised with strong beliefs, even in educated countries (eg 85% in Pakistan support sharia). God bless Dr mohammad

I don't know how many Muslims you're friends with but I wouldn't assume without some indication that this was difficult for him. There is a huge variety of beliefs in a population of over a billion adherents. Most of the ones I know have no issue with, for example, picking up a pack of bacon from the store as long as they're not the one expected to eat it.

Im sure it is morally justifiable to people of any religion, when performing the procedure is the only chance the patient has to continue living.

Re: Two weeks later David Bennett is alive, his pig’s heart beating soundly

#399

Post by malfist »

Beltalowda wrote: post #391
jostmey wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, the FDA will insert itself to regulate medicine wherever it can. For example, the FDA has been pushing to regulate diagnostic tests as medical devices. It’s funny how Americans surrender medical autonomy to the government but draw a strict line in the sand in other issues

> For example, the FDA has been pushing to regulate diagnostic tests as medical devices. I assume you mean COVID home tests and things like that? Call me strange, but if I buy such a thing then I'd like to make sure it's held to some standard of accuracy and safety. I do not have the resources or knowledge to find this out myself. Most people don't, and you can't just rely on "internet reviews" or the like. Someone h…

Right? Like why shouldn't they regulate diagnostic tests? Do you expect the free market to do it?
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