Using non-human primates to benefit humans: research and organ transplantation

D. Shaw*, W. Dondorp, G. de Wert

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Emerging biotechnology may soon allow the creation of genetically human organs inside animals, with non-human primates (henceforth simply "primates'') and pigs being the best candidate species. This prospect raises the question of whether creating organs in primates in order to then transplant them into humans would be more (or less) acceptable than using them for research. In this paper, we examine the validity of the purported moral distinction between primates and other animals, and analyze the ethical acceptability of using primates to create organs for human use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)573-578
Number of pages6
JournalMedicine Health Care and Philosophy
Volume17
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2014

Keywords

  • Primates
  • Research
  • Xenotransplantation
  • Personalized organs
  • IPS cells
  • Chimeras
  • Hybrids
  • Regenerative medicine
  • Stem cells
  • XENOTRANSPLANTATION
  • CELLS

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