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Original research
The promise of xenotransplantation: a challenge
  1. Christopher Bobier1,
  2. Adam Omelianchuk2,
  3. Daniel J Hurst3
  1. 1Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA
  2. 2Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Houston, Texas, USA
  3. 3Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, New Jersey, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Christopher Bobier; cabobier{at}gmail.com

Abstract

According to many scholars, kidney xenotransplantation promises to mitigate the organ supply shortage. This claim has a certain obviousness to it: by flooding the market with a new source of kidneys, xenotransplantation promises to be a panacea. Our goal is to challenge this claim. We argue that xenotransplantation may increase rather than decrease demand for kidneys, may reduce kidney allotransplants, and may be inaccessible or otherwise unused. By offering the challenge, we hope to show deeper reflection is needed on how xenotransplantation will affect the dearth of available organs.

  • Transplantation
  • Kidney

Data availability statement

No data are available.

https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2024-110263

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    Data availability statement

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    Footnotes

    • X @hurstdanielj

    • Contributors CB drafted the manuscript, and AO and DJH made substantial edits. CB is guarantor.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.