No? Well what makes piglets different?
Xenotransplantation is the removal of an animal organ to replace the organ of a human. Without details I suppose it would be hard to decide whether or not this is ethically right, it depends on whose ethics are being referred to. After all, hasn’t organ shortage been a growing problem since it was discovered in 1954 that such things were possible? So let’s look at the facts.
The greatest fear scientists have over this research is that there is every possibility that new diseases will be formed through cross-species infection. If this happens they will be unprepared and unable to treat it. Many of those awaiting treatment however are willing to take the risk, after all, the odds of survival are against them. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that they will take every chance they can at living, but at what cost?
It’s an understandable argument that the pigs would die anyway since they are killed on a regular basis for meat, but those pigs are bred for meat and so as porky as they are, their organs just will not do for this kind of procedure. Instead, piglets are bred and raised for the sole purpose of harvesting their organs. They are operated on throughout their lives and as human transplant patients know, that’s no way to live.
So is it worth it? A life for a life? If you owned a dog and needed organs, would you bring it with you to the hospital as a back up in case you’ve been moved down the list? Some people may say “well it’s just a farm animal” but so what if it is? That “farm animal” is far more intelligent than any dog and in many cases a lot friendlier. Humans have more in common both genetically and emotionally with pigs so it’s a wonder that such research is allowed. Xenotransplantation does have some great benefits, but morally? It certainly is a questionable topic.
Sarah Ford
