Posted by Therese B. on July 01, 1998 at 22:01:38:
In Reply to: July Diabetes Interview posted by Sandy D. on July 01, 1998 at 11:10:29:
From DI xeno article:
Bartha Maria Knoppers, a professor of bioethics and law at the University of Montreal, believes that xenotransplantation and the new guidelines will unleash a whole slew of ethical concerns.
"Basically, a patient's life will be signed away in exchange for saving his life," says Knoppers. "Never mind the technical and safety issues, transplant recipients will run the risk of being seen as different by the rest of society."
Because of this, Knoppers predicts that recipients and their families will require intensive counseling to deal with the psychological stresses. She has her doubts as to whether xenotransplantation is the answer.
"Just because you have the technology to do something doesn't always mean you should do it," says Knoppers. "Maybe we should be focusing our research and money on such things as artificial pancreases rather than fooling around with xenotransplantation."
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Dear Ms. (Mr.?) Knoppers,
Maybe you should ask the people who live daily with diabetes what THEY desire.
Run the risk of being seen as different? As if daily life with diabetes is not already "different?" Or being incapacitated by complications is not "different?"
Get a clue.
Therese