Head transplant anyone?

Hi, Jim.

Head transplants are nothing new, believe it or not.

Going back to the 1960's, the Russians successfully transplanted second heads onto dogs. There were many other creatures, such as monkeys, who also underwent such experiments.
I don't know what the prognoses were, but there was definitely 'independence' of both heads.

Since those experiments, there have been considerable advancements in microsurgical technology, so inevitably the human head transplant will be done - if it hasn't already!

The thought of doing such work will offend many people. However, consider the next stage - the amalgamation of the human brain into a non-organic 'device'.

Deep thoughts... The future.....
 
Oh that just conjures up so many what if scenarios...but of course none of us can imagine what would be going through the patients' mind...I mean, can you imagine waking up and finding your head on a completely strange body...not knowing these arms and legs...or any other intimate parts..? I can imagine how excited the thought of being able to feel like a ''normal'' person must be to someone who has always had such a severe restricted mobility, but I can also imagine ( if it were to work)...the trauma of not only having to deal with using someone else body parts but then living a life which you've never learned to live as an able bodied person, that would have to come with a lot of stresses as well as the obvious joy at being able to achieve things you only ever dreamed about.

I would love to see it come to fruition for those people so severely physically disabled that it gives them another chance at an active life, but I just have difficulty imagining it could become a very real reality!!
 

hollydolly said:
Oh that just conjures up so many what if scenarios...but of course none of us can imagine what would be going through the patients' mind...I mean, can you imagine waking up and finding your head on a completely strange body...not knowing these arms and legs...or any other intimate parts..? I can imagine how excited the thought of being able to feel like a ''normal'' person must be to someone who has always had such a severe restricted mobility, but I can also imagine ( if it were to work)...the trauma of not only having to deal with using someone else body parts but then living a life which you've never learned to live as an able bodied person, that would have to come with a lot of stresses as well as the obvious joy at being able to achieve things you only ever dreamed about.

I would love to see it come to fruition for those people so severely physically disabled that it gives them another chance at an active life, but I just have difficulty imagining it could become a very real reality!!
Click to expand...

I am assuming that the potential recipient of a new body is totally handicapped right now, and perhaps has been all of his life.
Taking your point a little further, he has not had the experience of ever having a complete body - so absolutely everything will be a new learning process.
... Will he ever be able to cope with that?
...... Perhaps his new body would at least be pain-free? Is his present body killing him?

Just a year or two ago, I remember reading of somebody (in France?) who had received a right hand replacement. He had lost his original hand in some sort of accident.
... He was unable to come to terms with his 'new' hand, and asked for it to be removed.
...... Others who have had similar transplants have apparently accepted them psychologically.
 
QuickSilver said:
Isn't this a misnomer? Since the HEAD is the governing part of the body... shouldn't this be called and entire body transplant?
Click to expand...

Oh heck, this is becoming somewhat complex.
You suggest the head is the governing part of the body. I'm not so sure I can agree with you.
... The human body is made up of three distinct areas - the physical, the psychological and the spiritual. All are interdependent upon the other.
...... The spiritual aspect is the will to live, and probably includes the individual personality.
(Please, don't ask me about the soul. I'm not your man to talk about that).

If, as you suggest, the head is transplanted onto a different body, it might be considered both a head transplant, and a body transplant.


Further considerations:

If it was possible for a very rich man to buy himself a new body, thereby extending his lifespan, would it be ethically correct?
... Bill Gates? Donald Trump?
Similarly, if a person with outstanding human mental facilities, Einstein for example, should he be considered for a head transplant for the benefit of mankind?
... Steven Hawkins?

Brain aging related conditions such as dementia will be preventable in the near future. I doubt if it will be recoverable should it be left untreated.
 
This is a very interesting thread. I try to keep up with the latest scientific advances in all fields, but I missed this one.
I agree with QS. I would call this a full body transplant. I view the human body as a single, wholly physical entity, with the brain being the source of psychological processes produced electro-chemicaly, and the seat of the personality. I do not believe in the spiritual or the soul. Hanfonius, I have not checked your profile yet or seen any prior posts from you, but please hang around, and post more. You obviously are up on these things, and pose some very interesting questions.
Finally, Jim. Thank you so much for posting this. I never expected to find this type of discussion on a "Senior" forum.
 
Then again Fox News is Fox News, right up there with The National Enquirer sometimes. The most difficult thing even with advances in micro surgery is the spinal cord. It's exact connections are still something of a mystery. That's probably one of the biggest hurdles they have to get over.
 
fureverywhere said:
Then again Fox News is Fox News, right up there with The National Enquirer sometimes. The most difficult thing even with advances in micro surgery is the spinal cord. It's exact connections are still something of a mystery. That's probably one of the biggest hurdles they have to get over.[/QUOTE

Gee and I thought Trump was bad by losing his head all the time.
Click to expand...
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjqXOzJr_E

Just returning to the very first posting on this thread, I thought you might like to see the possible recipient, and the doctor concerned.

Now, do you think the medical fraternity and public opinion will allow him to go ahead? (Pardon the unintentional pun there!!!)

1906 - first corneal transplant.
1906 - first kidney transplant. Unsuccessful due to lack of anti-rejection drugs.
1954 - first kidney transplant. Successful between twins.
1963 - first liver transplant.
1964 - first heart transplant.
1967 - first whole facial transplant.
1968 - first heart/lung transplant.
1998 - first hand transplant. Successful with immune-suppressing medications.

Obviously, there had been unsuccessful transplants in earlier years, but eventually these operations became possible and acceptable.
 
AZ Jim said:
If that is the one I heard about earlier it turned out to be a complete fraud.
Click to expand...

I believe this story to be true, Jim. Not only has it appeared in the worlds press and TV, it is even appearing in medical journals such as The Lancet and The New Scientist.
 

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