[wordup] Face transplants 'now possible'

[Adam Shand]

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3259773.stm

Face transplants 'now possible'

Surgeons appear to be gearing up to carry out the world's first face 
transplant.

British doctors say they have been approached by 10 patients keen to 
find out more about the procedure.

Surgeons in France and the United States say they are now ready to graft 
the face of a dead person on to someone who has been facially disfigured.

However, British doctors say they need public support before they will 
carry out the highly controversial procedure.

Medical advance

The prospect of transplanting a face from a dead person to another 
living person was first raised by plastic surgeons one year ago.

Speaking at the time, Peter Butler, a plastic surgeon at London's Royal 
Free Hospital, told a conference that the procedure would be possible 
within months.

There are many moral, ethical and psychological issues which need to be 
debated before anyone has surgery
Spokeswoman, Royal Free Hospital
Surgeons now say they have reached the point where they could carry out 
the operation.

They say improvements in anti-rejection drugs now make it possible.

The technique would involve removing facial muscles and skin from a dead 
donor and placing them on another person.

Surgeons have acknowledged that such a procedure raises major moral, 
ethical and psychological issues.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is expected to publish a report 
on face transplants next week. Surgeons hope it will help to spark a 
public debate.

The Royal Free Hospital insisted that its doctors would not carry out 
the procedure until the issues were debated.

"While Peter Butler and his team are confident they have overcome the 
technical hurdles to this procedure, there are many moral, ethical and 
psychological issues which need to be debated before anyone has 
surgery," a spokeswoman said.

"The publication of the Royal College of Surgeons' report on the issue 
of face transplantation, which is due soon, is the first step in this 
important process."

Patient requests

The hospital revealed that doctors had received requests for information 
from patients.

"The team has had requests for information from 10 people from all over 
the world but none has been assessed in any way," said the spokeswoman.

"Once a serious debate has taken place and resolved the issues outlined 
above, the question of ethical approval can be addressed and if that is 
forthcoming potential patients' suitability for surgery can be assessed."

The Royal College of Surgeons report is expected to examine the physical 
and psychological risks of face transplants.

"The Royal College of Surgeons set up a working party to look at the 
various issues that would need to be considered if such a procedure were 
to take place - not only the surgical and medical aspects of such an 
operation but also the psychological and ethical aspects," the college 
said in a statement.

The report will be published ahead of a debate at the Dana Centre at 
London's Science Museum, on Wednesday next week.

It will be addressed by John Barker, a leading plastic surgeon from the 
University of Louisiana. His team is expected to be the first to carry 
out a face transplant if it receives regulatory approval.

However, another team in France have also applied for ethical approval 
to carry out the operation.

Published: 2003/11/11 10:20:38 GMT