First human head transplant may offer hope for terminal patients
The concept of a head transplant has been limited to movies and science-fiction novels, but that may all become a thing of the past if…
We are a few steps closer to a human head transplant. (Shutterstock)
The concept of a head transplant has been limited to movies and science-fiction novels, but that may all become a thing of the past if a new procedure, named HEAVEN-GEMINI , takes place in Italy within the next few years.
According to Dr. Sergio Canavero, of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, such a surgery is now feasible, though it would take some 36 hours and the skills of 100 specialized surgeons.
Next June at the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons’ 39th Annual Conference in Annapolis, MD, Canavero will announce his updated plans to attempt the procedure. He has previously discussed his concerns regarding potential hurdles for such a drastic medical surgery, but now believes those hurdles can be overcome.
SEE ALSO: Could successful human head transplants now be a medical reality?
The idea of a human head transplant is not new, and primate studies have actually seen some success. In 1970, S neurosurgeon Dr. Robert White transplanted a monkey’s head onto another monkey’s body. At the time, there was not enough existing knowledge or technology to connect the severed spinal cord parts, but though paralyzed, the monkey was able to see, hear, taste, and smell. Unfortunately, the test subject died 9 days after the procedure when the body’s immune system rejected the head.
These two dilemmas may be able to be addressed with modern medicine, stated Canavero in an editorial recently published in the journal Surgical Neurology International. According to the doctor, modern medications have significantly reduced the risk of immune rejection for organ donors, and a head would be no different from another transplanted body part. What’s more, German researchers have developed methods that have successfully reconnect spinal cords in laboratory rats, and this technology could be applied to human test subjects.
“The key to SCF [spinal cord fusion] is a sharp severance of the cords themselves,” Canavero explained, “with its attendant minimal damage to both the axons in the white matter and the neurons in the gray laminae. This is a key point.”
Researchers have successfully reconnected spinal cords in laboratory mice. (Shutterstock)
The goal would be to offer a last-chance option for people with metastatic cancer, muscle-wasting diseases, or any other medical condition that debilitates the body but leaves the mind untouched. Of course, not all the hurdles have yet been breached. There is still a major issue with obtaining a healthy donor body.
SEE ALSO: Organ donation is taboo for Hispanics
“The real stumbling block is the ethics. Should this surgery be done at all? There are obviously going to be many people who disagree with it,” stated Canavero. “If society doesn’t want it, I won’t do it. But if people don’t want it in the US or Europe, that doesn’t mean it won’t be done somewhere else. I’m trying to go about this the right way, but before going to the moon, you want to make sure people will follow you.”
There are currently millions of people around the world suffering from incurable cancers and muscular disorders of the body. Though a human head transplant cannot be possible for all of them, the availability of such a procedure could change the outcomes for a select few individuals. Only time will tell if the public will be accepting of such a drastic move. There is some concern?no matter how far-fetched?that this technology could be abused and the uber-rich will have a new tool in the quest for immortality.
