World's First Human Head Transplant Planned

[Tywais]

Terminally ill man set to be first to undergo the world’s first full head transplant

AN Italian surgeon is set to become the first in the world to transplant a human head on to a donor body.

The pioneering operation by Dr Sergio Canavero is to be carried out on a 30-year-old computer scientist who is suffering from a fatal muscle wasting disease.

Valery Spiridonov has admitted that the prospect of going through with the operation is terrifying.

“I am afraid, but what people don’t really understand is I don’t really have many choices.

“If I don’t try this out my fate will be very sad. With every year my situation is getting worse.”

The man from Russia, who is battling the rare genetic Werdnig-Hoffman muscle wasting disease, added: “My decision is final and I do not plan to change my mind.”

More here - Daily Telegraph

[Tywais]

Some background information of the process and history.

First human head transplant could happen in two years

A radical plan for transplanting a head onto someone else’s body is set to be announced. But is such ethically sensitive surgery even feasible?

IT'S heady stuff. The world's first attempt to transplant a human head will be launched this year at a surgical conference in the US. The move is a call to arms to get interested parties together to work towards the surgery.

The idea was first proposed in 2013 by Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group in Italy. He wants to use the surgery to extend the lives of people whose muscles and nerves have degenerated or whose organs are riddled with cancer. Now he claims the major hurdles, such as fusing the spinal cord and preventing the body's immune system from rejecting the head, are surmountable, and the surgery could be ready as early as 2017.

Canavero plans to announce the project at the annual conference of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons (AANOS) in Annapolis, Maryland, in June. Is society ready for such momentous surgery? And does the science even stand up?

The first attempt at a head transplant was carried out on a dog by Soviet surgeon Vladimir Demikhov in 1954. A puppy's head and forelegs were transplanted onto the back of a larger dog. Demikhov conducted several further attempts but the dogs only survived between two and six days.

The first successful head transplant, in which one head was replaced by another, was carried out in 1970. A team led by Robert White at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, transplanted the head of one monkey onto the body of another. They didn't attempt to join the spinal cords, though, so the monkey couldn't move its body, but it was able to breathe with artificial assistance. The monkey lived for nine days until its immune system rejected the head. Although few head transplants have been carried out since, many of the surgical procedures involved have progressed. "I think we are now at a point when the technical aspects are all feasible," says Canavero.

More here - Newscientist

[Crossy]

Point of order, isn't it actually a complete body transplant?

[Tywais]

Point of order, isn't it actually a complete body transplant?

Read the article, that is brought up.

[angiolo]

i want to live forever,please put my head on a good looking young man

[Costas2008]

Cheer up TVF members........there is still a chance for you

[lust]

i want to live forever,please put my head on a good looking young man[/quote

Sorry mate, you are stuck with that mug forever.

[Crazy chef 1]

frightening...

[keestha]

Possible implications are mind boggling. You're 60+ and your body is slowly wearing out, so go to China, shell out a lot of money, and get the body of a 20+ year old man who has just been executed.

[tifino]

Zaphod Beeblelrox would be beside himself to hear about this... that his original head can finally be removed

[gerry123]

thats a bummer have to change all his id photos now

[F430murci]

Could this revolutionize sex change procedures?

[Tywais]

[dcutman]

There are thousands of severed spinal cords out there. How many has this guy repaired to the point of full function? I could only find his name on the transplanting head theory.

[manarak]

Could this revolutionize sex change procedures?

That was my thought too, LOL

Good luck to the patient for the operation!

[NeverSure]

This is shocking news. I had heard that they were first going to test this idea on TVF members due to some of the

posts they'd read.

[Gulfsailor]

There are thousands of severed spinal cords out there. How many has this guy repaired to the point of full function? I could only find his name on the transplanting head theory.

Current technology according to this surgeon make it possible to fuse certain nerve cells in the spinal cord when they are cleanly cut. That is not the case with common spinal injuries where the spine is crushed and thus damaged much more severe. Google for this doctor's TedX speech in which he explains it.

[shaggy1969]

“My decision is final and I do not plan to change my mind.”..........but he does plan to change his body

[NeilSA1]

This is shocking news. I had heard that they were first going to test this idea on TVF members due to some of the

posts they'd read.

I believe they have already tested this on a few TVF members recently, but there were no noticeable improvements.

[Crazy chef 1]

Are they playing God? It's a kind of Frankenstein story...ethical incorrect...should be banned

[jamesjohnsonthird]

This is shocking news. I had heard that they were first going to test this idea on TVF members due to some of the

posts they'd read.

There is strong evidence that several brain donors have signed up for the forum.

And there are several more apparently needing an urgent transplant.

[ezzra]

I could think of many people in Thailand where a head transplant is a good idea whether

they needed it or not.... pity they can't do a brain transplant, to expedite the process.....

[Fullstop]

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Possible implications are mind boggling. You're 60+ and your body is slowly wearing out, so go to China, shell out a lot of money, and get the body of a 20+ year old man who has just been executed.

Better make a booking for a todger transplant at the same time...

[soalbundy]

This will only be interesting when he gives his first interview after the OP. He must be a frightened man but as he said, he has no choice. Good luck to him.

[SOTIRIOS]

.....as for choice of words....'...do not plan to change my mind...'.....

....only the location.....

[klauskunkel]

Future black market item: headless bodies

[godden]

I was due for an &lt;deleted&gt; transplant but the &lt;deleted&gt; rejected me

[Gandtee]

It all sounds very "Boris Karloff"! Horror movie material.

[Gandtee]

My nephew has got a head he is not using. Any offers?

[maidee]

no way this will work

they cannot even fix people with spine injury